Celebration Marks Opening of New MAX Orange Line and Tilikum Crossing

The first Orange Line train crested Tilikum Crossing, led by members of the Grand Ronde tribe.

Portland, September 12th, 2015. After almost four years of construction, the $135 million dollar, 1,720-foot-long cable-stayed Bridge of the People is open for business. The first Orange Line train crested Tilikum Crossing led by members of the Grand Ronde tribe.

The party was a great excuse to bring out anything orange! All rides on TriMet buses, MAX trains, Portland Streetcar and the Portland Aerial Tram were free all day.

The grand opening celebration was a two day affair which drew tens of thousands of people who wanted to celebrate the first new bridge to cross the Willamette in over 40 years.

On September 11th, folks gathered to see Tilikum Crossing’s light show. A riverside photo booth was popular and folks got to take home a souvenir Polaroid-style print.

The First Light show, which ran just under 10 minutes, was synchronized with a special All Classical Portland soundtrack and showed the bridge brilliantly lit in every color.

The opening of Tilikum Crossing completes 7.8 miles of bike infrastructure associated with the MAX Orange Line, and introduces new options for thousands of cyclists and pedestrians.

Tilikum Crossing is now the nation’s longest multi-modal non-vehicle bridge.

“People seem to adore the aesthetics of it, the art, the architectural lighting and how well it fits its site,” says Dan Blocher, TriMet’s executive director of capital projects. “It was a three-year process to embrace the city of bridges [and determine] what bridge type would work here. This fits in the environment.”

Trimet created a video to expain more about the process:

U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, speaking at the opening ceremony, noted that he’s attended every MAX and Portland Streetcar opening. “There’s none that’s been more anticipated nor significant than what we’re celebrating here today,” he said. “The Orange Line, the bridge that ties it all together, this is transportation for our future today.”

Elisa Klein

I’ve been a professional journalist and writer since 1987, (and long-time reporter for KOIN-TV.) As a nationally published reporter, with a Master’s Degree in Journalism, I love to report positive news and information. Journalism has also connected me with another non-profit where I served as a leader; the Northwest’s biggest writer’s organization: The Willamette Writers.