From this wooden walk you have a view of both Albany highway bridges. The wood can get slippery when wet.
The boardwalk overlooking the Willamette River under the Ellsworth Street Bridge in Albany will remain unchanged by the city’s riverfront improvement plan, I learned today.
I had assumed this old wooden structure, about 40 years old, would be refurbished or rebuilt as part of the urban renewal program’s Waterfront Project. That’s what I said in last week’s story about the project.
But no, I was mistaken. The boardwalk mentioned in a list of things to be built as part of the second phase of the project is something else, a structure 12 feet wide by 70 long that will extend toward the river from the new stage in Monteith Riverpark.
This sounds like it might be under water part of each winter. But evidently it will be built with that in mind.
City Engineer Staci Belcastro described it in an email: “Its substructure and support is constructed out of steel and includes 7 pile(s) with concrete abutments at each end. The proposed wood decking is black locust, which is slip resistant, can be submerged, and doesn’t require application of a coating that needs to be maintained.”
As for the old boardwalk over the riverbank near the Ellsworth Bridge, the Waterfront Project designers evidently thought it was fine the way it was and didn’t need any work, at least not as part of the urban renewal effort.
“The existing boardwalk will remain, and is not being refurbished,” Belcastro told me.
When it rains, that old wooden deck gets pretty slippery, as I know from experience as my bike once slid out from under me there. It might have been nice at least to add a slip-resistant coating, since one goal of the Waterfront Project is to have more people using the riverfront path. (hh)
Sorry, I just asked you in a comment if the old boardwalk where the Noodle Restaurant used to be would be refurbished. I think it should have a non-stick coating put on it. I don’t dare say they (meaning CARA) used their money for other things, hoping to bring crowds to downtown, because I will get blasted off the page by some of your regular commenters. Oops, I did say it. Blast away!!!
Seems to me the City would want to fix that old boardwalk slippery surface before someone slips, gets hurt and sues them
Asking for slip-resistant coating is a valid request. Cheaper than hospital bills.
“….When it rains, that old wooden deck gets pretty slippery…..
Some GREEN PAINt should fix that….
That’s going to be a slipping hazard and someone will get hurt and the city may get sued. That’s the chance they take.
Haven’t those boards been there for decades?
Maybe it’s never been much of a problem?
Nonsense. So if your pit bull doesn’t attack anyone for 10 years, but rips into Hasso tomorrow, the past goodness of the dog is your defense?
Hasso has a compelling story here, and photos, that reveal the unsafe condition and the city’s possible negligence.
And if I’m Hasso’s lawyer I would sue for personal injury, the damage to Hasso’s high-end bike, the Rolex that broke when he hit the deck, and the loss of his expensive camera/recording equipment.
Better call Saul.
Any board that has been outside in Oregon rain for 40 years has serious problems. To spend $15 million or whatever they are wasting and not replace 40 year old boards is a travesty.
Yes, but typical around here. Just look at our roads. I don’t agree with how travesties like CARA can spend so much money on the councils “pet projects” while our infrastructure crumbles away.
I get you’re clueless as to how CARA functions and are oblivious to how roads are maintained & paid for, but that’s your rabbit hole to follow. Since we’re coming to the end (after 20+ years) of our URD with a huge amount of players over the years, you’re obviously on the wrong side. Your P.O.V. for sure. Enjoy your ride… :-)
Albany seems to always put money (cart) before the horse.. they are famous for that with their brilliant ideas… Sad