Portland's Tilikum Crossing opened to pedestrians for a few hours during the 20th annual Providence Bridge Pedal. The bridge will officially open Sept. 12.
Lizzy Duffy / OPB
There's one more bridge for cyclists to traverse during this year's Providence Bridge Pedal with a special opening of the Tilikum Crossing Sunday.
Portland's latest bridge — and the only cable stay bridge in the Pacific Northwest — won't open to the general public until September, but the 20th annual bike event was reason enough to open the crossing for at least a few hours.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer led the first riders and even some runners across the Tilikum Crossing at 6:15 a.m. The congressman said he claimed the No. 1 spot on the pedestrian counter when the inaugural group crossed the bridge.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer led the inaugural pedestrian group across the Portland Tilikum Crossing early in the morning.
Lizzy Duffy / OPB
"As the longest bridge in North America with no cars — just bike, pedestrian, bus, streetcar and lightrail — it's a symbol of how we tie the pieces together," he said. "I couldn't be more excited."
The bridge will link the city's South Waterfront to the Central Eastside and on down to Milwaukie. The crossing's name, "Tilikum,"comes from the local Native American language of Chinook Wawa, meaning "people, tribes and relatives."
Blumenauer said during the bridge's construction, he invited a number of people from all over the country to see the Tilikum Crossing for themselves, adding that the bridge was built on time and under budget.
"The design is superb," he said. "It really makes a difference in terms of how the Portland, Oregon, approach really gets more value out of our investment."
All four possible routes during the Bridge Pedal will cross the Tilikum. Following the ride, the public is invited to cross themselves by bike or by foot from 1:30-4:30 p.m.
The TriMet MAX Orange Line will begin service to Milwaukie starting Sept. 12 when the bridge officially opens. In the evening, the bridge will light up with LEDs that change color with the current and temperature of the Willamette River below. It's the first bridge to be built over the Willamette in more than 40 years and the first cable-stay bridge in the Pacific Northwest.
"I will be here (for the ribbon cutting): 34 days and four hours," said Blumenauer. "Nothing's gonna stop me."