Taking a look at the rebuilding of the eastern of two piers on Albany’s riverfront Tuesday.
When you’re away for a week and then come back, you’re likely to notice progress even when day-to-day changes are small and easy to miss. I got back Monday and noticed at least a couple of things about the Albany Waterfront Project.
One is that the rebuilt Water Avenue intersection with Montgomery Street has been reopened to traffic. The new pedestrian railroad crossing there is almost done.
Water Avenue at that junction now is narrower than before. A fire hydrant sits on a curb extension or “bulb-out.” Here’s hoping that on some dark and dreary night, the hydrant doesn’t get hit by a driver who, still unused to the new layout, runs over the curb.
A new pedestrian crossing just east of the Lyon Street bridge remains unfinished. I’m looking forward to seeing how the contractors will manage the elevation difference between the raised railroad track and the Dave Clark Path about 6 feet below.
The other big change since the start of May is that construction is well under way on the Willamette River pier near the Avery Mill Building.
This morning, contractors were lifting in place the steel foundations of the walkway out to the platform overlooking the river.
This is the eastern of the two river piers. The other one, upstream, is presumably finished but still inaccessible because of construction in Monteith Riverpark.
The $21.5 million urban renewal Waterfront Project’s main goal is to reconnect people with the riverfront. Which makes you wonder about the message of the new sign on Water Avenue at Montgomery: “Sidewalk Closed.” (hh)
The view west along Water Avenue from the new Montgomery Street intersection on Monday afternoon, May 13, 2024.
And by Tuesday afternoon, most of the railing had been installed on the east pier.
All this would be great except the river is gross.
I would like to see boats
On the river again.