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About The Southwest Portland Post. (Portland, Oregon) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 2014)
8 • The Southwest Portland Post FEATURES November 2014 Closed during construction, Iowa Street trail scheduled to reopen Nov. 1 In addition, the state has repaired the Newbury Street and Vermont Street bridges on Southwest Barbur Boulevard, said Susan Hanson, an By Janet Goetze ODOT community affairs coordinator. The Southwest Portland Post Work on those spans was slower than expected and delayed the reopening After a four-year wait, hikers may of the Iowa Street trail, originally return to the Iowa Street section of expected in early October, she said. Southwest Trails, east of George The section of trail under the freeway Himes Park, according to an Oregon was closed for safety reasons while Department of Transportation construction continued overhead, spokeswoman. Hanson said. The trail was rebuilt on The 500 feet of trail was scheduled ODOT right-of-way to trail standards to be open by Nov. 1 along with new of the City of Portland, which will Iowa Street viaducts that replace maintain it, she said. deteriorating 55-year-old spans at Twenty-eight people, led by Don milepost 298, north of the Terwilliger Baack, president of SW Trails PDX, curves on Interstate 5. took a 4-mile hike on Oct. 11 that included the new steps and surface of the Iowa Street trail. The hikers went ahead with the previously scheduled inaugural trek on a Saturday, when safety problems didn’t arise, Hanson said. “We value the partnership we have had with SW Trails on the design,” Hanson said at a ceremony near Wilson High School before the hike began. After the hike, Baack, who has been working on trails for two decades, praised the new section. “I think it’s really nicely done,” he said. The rebuilt trail includes a spur leading to a view area where hikers may pause to gaze at Mount Hood and portions of the city on clear days. Baack said SW Trails PDX president Don Baack (center) SW Trails hopes to pay for and will receive the Sandy Diedrich Environmental maintain a bench for those who Stewardship Award at the Spirit of Portland want to rest at the viewpoint. Awards ceremony on Nov. 6. in the atrium Those who want to take a short at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, 501 N. walk on the new section can Graham St. Baack has spent the better part of two decades building a trails network for Southwest reach it from Southwest Iowa Portland. The awards, started 30 years ago, Street off View Point Terrace, recognize individuals and organizations who following signs toward George have made positive changes in the community. Himes Natural Area. Visit www.portlandoregon.gov/oni/29024 for more The October hike was a return information. (Post photo by Janet Goetz) trip for some members of SW SOUTHWEST TRAILS Imagine The Difference You Can Make DONATE YOUR CAR 1-800-940-0629 FREE TOWING TAX DEDUCTIBLE Help Prevent Blindness Get A Vision Screening Annually Ask About A FREE 3 Day Vacation Voucher To Over 20 Destinations!!! Trails, a community membership group promoting wellness and supporting walking and biking in Southwest Portland and surrounding areas. In 1996, volunteers resurfaced the trail with a bucket brigade, according to a post on the organization’s website, www.swtrails.org. The group obtained three dozen buckets and distributed them at several gravel piles near signs that encouraged hikers to voluntarily carry loads to cover the trail. Above the trail segment, the work on the freeway viaducts meets current roadway and seismic standards, Hanson said. It also provides wider shoulders, wider center medians, three travel lanes in each direction and a new retaining wall, with a design developed after 400 Robin Vesey, Friends of Terwilliger president, Southwest residents responded points out the new Iowa Street trail, rebuilt by the state, passing under Interstate 5 and Barbur to a survey. Boulevard viaducts. Grass is growing beside the On Barbur Boulevard, the trail and plants are being added. (Post photo by Newbury Street and Vermont Janet Goetze) Street bridges, built across two ravines in 1934, were deteriorating The construction areas, including from water seeping into joints, rusting slopes beside the trail, have been steel rebar inside the decks and seeded with grass, and trees and causing other damage, Hanson said. shrubs are being planted. 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