Two Walking Bridges Open in SW!

The Foley Balmer Bridge (in the Foley Balmer Natural Area, accessed at SW 18th Pl and SW Collins Ct or up on SW Lancaster Road) and the Owl Creek Bridge (best accessed from SW 18th Pl and Marshall Park—with a very small parking area) are now open. These are beautiful new bridges.

Both had been closed for several years due to structural defects. After lobbying by the Marshall Park Neighborhood Association, SWTrails PDX, and the SWNI Parks committee, with the encouragement of Janelle St. Pierre of the City of Portland, funding for construction was approved. These bridges will provide safe off-street walking access to the new culvert project on Boones Ferry Road—in the process of being approved—leading to a trail all the way into Tryon Creek State Park and on to Lake Oswego. The SWTrails dream of an official Hillsdale to Lake Oswego walking route is getting closer. Foley Balmer Bridge crosses Tryon creek, and both bridges feature rugged and attractive designs that will last a very long time. We at SWTrails encourage everyone to take a look-see at these wonderful new additions to our Southwest walking infrastructure.

A few additional details: there are actually three new bridges (two on Owl Creek, one at Foley Balmer). The Portland Parks bond to fund them was passed in 2014; and neighborhood associations provided letters of support that helped secure consideration for funding. The Owl Creek Bridge closed about five years ago and the Foley-Balmer Bridge has been closed for three years.  A note: the trails along Owl Creek are now much more accessible, but not designed to meet ADA standards due to the steepness of the terrain. They do include new rock retaining walls.