Tukey’s Bridge closure 10/6 - 10/17

[Aaron L. Rosenblum]

I can’t recall whether this has been previously announced or discussed here, but pretty major interruption for many bike/pedestrian commuters and recreators coming up! I think the last relevant discussion was about work on one side or the other, not across the span. 

If the photo doesn’t attach: there are now

signs at both ends of the Tukey’s bridge path saying Unitil will be doing work specifically on the pathway from 10/6 to 10/17, the path will be closed during that time, seek alternate route. 

I wonder how path-specific it is, or whether they chose to close the path rather than a lane of road? But I whatever infrastructure is there could be on the edge of the structure closest to the path?

If the work has to be done and the path is the only possible work area, okay, cheers to them for getting signage out in advance.

Aaron 

[Damon Yakovleff]

Thanks for the heads up, first I have seen anything about this. My opinion is that it may be worth pushing back on this. That is a very long closure of very important connection. I have real concerns that, as usual, somebody choose 100% impact on bike/ped over minor inconvenience to motorists. Also I am concerned that this will simply push bike ped traffic onto the travel lanes of Tukeys.

Something similar was proposed years back for Casco Bay Bridge and we got the plan modified. Maybe we can do that here.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Portland Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to PBPAC+un...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/PBPAC/CAAxgO%3DzcOuLMLGrVBKNx8qPc9zNF6K3DonZnqT6fnxqpCg1oDg%40mail.gmail.com.

[Zack Barowitz]

Hm. I mean they could  set up cones or Jersey barriers and let cyclists use the shoulder(s).

I wonder who is the decider on this.

Zack

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/PBPAC/CALqySnmSTz9kvVz-fheCikn38JfEhsHt0TPrLw%3D3s%3DU2UXsKNQ%40mail.gmail.com.

--

207-838-6120

917-696-5649
ZacharyBarowitz.com

ATTENTION:
The information in this electronic mail message is private and confidential,
and only intended for the addressee. Should you receive this message by
mistake, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, reproduction,
distribution or use of this message is strictly prohibited. Please inform
the sender by reply transmission and delete the message without copying or
opening it.

[Winston Lumpkins]

Unitil has a long history of just doing things without any clear avenue for objections.  

I think it possible that their line is on the outside of the bridge only accessible via the path, but that's conjecture.  

At the very least, they should have to mark the detour as you would with a road closure.  

Winston Lumpkins IV (he/him/his)

Past Chair, Portland Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee
https://www.portlandbikeped.org/

winston....@gmail.com
207-408-1508

• 
  

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/PBPAC/CAE741VBx4wqLd901Tc0jCaxu9n0igJN5xHPWnVYFpLrkZtCZ3A%40mail.gmail.com.

[Scsmedia]

I just looked at some utility maps that I have from my previous job hoping they would show the gas, but they do not.  Someone walking or riding across the bridge needs to look for yellow arrows painted somewhere and take clear pictures that provide their full context.  Basically two pictures, one at the start and one at the end.

I did no that the Consolidated Communications (former MA Bell, New England Telephone, NYNEX, Verizon, Fairpoint) conduit runs under the bridge on the cove side from the Veranda Street end to a point about 80% across the bridge where it crosses over and proceeds along the other side up the hill to inner Washington Avenue.

There is a manhole in the sidewalk where it crosses over and you many see faded lines on the concrete barriers.  I would have last marked three to four years ago so the markings may be gone unless someone else marked it.

If Unitil is doing work, that conduit needs to be remarked.  Unitil sometimes comes in and marks their stuff just before starting when they are doing the work.

Steven Scharf

207-415-4662

SCSM...@aol.com

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/PBPAC/CABaJc7x4VGzQ0EfP%2BUfZZqZzjf-xQ9WtvXvDx9jExWU0GqZAmw%40mail.gmail.com.

[thomas nosal]

I thought this might be helpful context. Back in autumn of 2015 I did a little presentation for the Portland Trails 15x15 meeting on bike/ped count data in Portland. PT had a bike/ped counter on the north side of Tukey's Bridge. The average daily count was roughly 900 trips, and the peak day saw nearly 1,600 trips. This is a huge impact. (Does PT still maintain that counter?) 

"Seek alternate routes" is funny because it's pretty obvious that the alternate route is an extra 3 miles around Back Cove. Or I guess one could swim, or more likely cross illegally on 295. 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/PBPAC/CABaJc7x4VGzQ0EfP%2BUfZZqZzjf-xQ9WtvXvDx9jExWU0GqZAmw%40mail.gmail.com.

[Zack Barowitz]

Good point about people most likely crossing illegally, that should be brought to someone’s attention— whose?

207-838-6120

917-696-5649
ZacharyBarowitz.com

ATTENTION:
The information in this electronic mail message is private and confidential,
and only intended for the addressee. Should you receive this message by
mistake, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, reproduction,
distribution or use of this message is strictly prohibited. Please inform
the sender by reply transmission and delete the message without copying or
opening it.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/PBPAC/CADDH0-Kgedtjfi0u%2BuvUPKoc044PkzJRJD7UhXA26JDZ9YaQEQ%40mail.gmail.com.

[Liz Trice]

thanks to people for working on this. 

[Winston Lumpkins]

I'm headed to work in 10 minutes, so it won't be me, but, someone could draft an email to send to Greg Jordan, the assistant city manager in charge of transportation alerting him to this emergency situation.  We could cc counclors and other city staff. 

 I wonder if we could ask Metro to route some bus line along Baxter Boulevard as an emergency measure; although, it wouldn't go late enough to help folks who use this trail as transportation at night.  

Some people do use this trail link to walk to work in the old port, there are several sober houses on outer washington I think, and I fear this might be enough of a problem for folks walking to work from them to lead to re-lapse or push them into homelessness again.  I don't know how many people depend on this for a walking commute... but an hour plus of walking added can be too much. 

One thing I wonder about, is, if Unitil needs to dig up the path that's not on the Bridge, could we ask them to put it back together slightly wider?  The fenced portions that are not on the bridge itself are only 8 feet wide and represent a serious safety issue, and could be 10-12 feet if we moved the fence....  

~Winston

Winston Lumpkins IV (he/him/his)

Past Chair, Portland Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee
https://www.portlandbikeped.org/

winston....@gmail.com
207-408-1508

• 
  

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/PBPAC/1aee7da1-183f-46a4-9d28-83d9bc817bf9n%40googlegroups.com.

[Damon Yakovleff]

Winston, those are excellent points. I agree with you that the consequences of the closure could be significant. At minimum, I would hope that we can greatly increase the priority for 

A) Finding another option that doesn't involving closing the pedestrian / bike connection, or creating  temporary bike / ped route on the bridge decking, And/or

B) Greatly limiting the duration of the closure, And/or

C) Adding a 24 hour shuttle at each end of the bridge

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/PBPAC/CABaJc7z8Sm%3D3TsrX6aLvcQrMqgc9Vzd80X7xB4QJ9vDnY96hZA%40mail.gmail.com.

[Aaron L. Rosenblum]

Thanks to Christian and anyone else who worked on it for the great letter to the City. 

I'm in the very privileged position of being able to absorb (both in time and ability) a detour all the way around the Back Cove, but the Tukey's path is nonetheless an essential part of my bike commute several days a week. If there's any testifying to be done or we get any media requests, I'm happy to speak as a path user, though I would gladly hand that to someone whose mobility or other circumstances make the closure a true nuisance/harm/danger rather than just an inconvenience. 

Aaron 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/PBPAC/CALqySnkW_BRj%2BLB-67eY_ZzUmjSXf4gYtEYWJ5q9ysU3pR51Sg%40mail.gmail.com.

[Gordon Platt]

Unitil’s phone number is 

1-888-301-7700

press 7 for customer service 

I just chatted with a customer service rep and asked them to pass along my concerns about this, with some of the points listed by Christian et al. The rep was very kind and said they would get someone to call me back. 

Call if you can! Make sure they know that people are concerned and that this will have real impact!

Gordon 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/PBPAC/CAAxgO%3DymX-3j6UfxQczoscAjaU5%3DFp5h15Ot0r_7PzRRB2pogw%40mail.gmail.com.

[Christian MilNeil]

I should clarify that I only sent that letter into the City Council (and Unitil, and Maine's Federal Highway Administration office) on my own personal initiative – I'm not presuming to speak for the group. I'd encourage more people to weigh in though! Additionally, if there's a formal letter from PBPAC, I think it would have more impact.

Folks can also file a complaint with the U.S. Access Board:
https://www.access-board.gov/enforcement/

Christian MilNeil
- - - - - - - - - - - - -

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/PBPAC/CAHcy_gxxgWcUB4%3D5XPsDBgwVb4zCORB%2Bi9c6f7-K5Y26mW-5Ng%40mail.gmail.com.

[John Clark]

In case anyone else was wondering, the work is now starting 10/20. No end date listed, but if they keep the same timeline, it would probably be through 10/31. https://unitil.com/news/tukeys-bridge-section-back-cove-trail-close-pipeline-maintenance

Meanwhile, (as of Saturday), the signs out on the trail still say 10/6, wish this was communicated better. 

[Denise Brautigam]

Thank you........Denise

https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/PBPAC/34748ac3-fcc6-4fbc-8bb8-000d7931fb17n%40googlegroups.com

.