Neighborhood Notes

When it comes to recycling. Portland is a leader.

Now the Pearl District Neighborhood Association is taking that concept to a new and very expensive level.

The association is finding a new use for the old bridge to Sauvie Island.

If all goes as planned it will be a new foot and bike only overpass crossing I-405 at Northwest Flanders, Avenue. It's designed to bridge the gap between the Pearl and NW 23rd Street.

It's been talked for years, but now the idea is picking up more steam. But at what price?

Portland's blueprint calls for building a new twelve footwide span across I-405.

But, the Pearl District Neighborhood Association sees the Sauvie Bridge as a better solution. Construction began on a new bridge about a year ago. It's being built along side the old bridge.

"To get forty feet of pedestrian way, to get forty feet of bicycle way it's immense, "said Patty Gardner with the Pearl District Neighborhood association. She says there's another reason to recycle the bridge.

"It's the history, to have something that has legitimacy. And it's been around for 50 years, that's incredible. You cannot create that..."

read more at KGW.Com