Ships began arriving for the Portland Rose Festival’s Fleet Week on Tuesday, June 2, with Steel and Burnside bridge lifts that will continue on Wednesday.

The annual event is a highlight of the festival, bringing many people downtown to see and the tours the ships of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and Canadian Navy moored along the seawall at Tom McCall Waterfront Park.

Bridge lifts are required to bring the ships and allow them out on Monday, June 9. The estimated schedule is as follows, subject to change:

Tuesday, June 3: Expect three ships arriving with bridge lifts between 3 and 6 p.m. Lifts will be longer than normal, in some cases up to 45 minutes.
Wednesday, June 4: Expect four ships arriving with bridge lifts between 4 and 8 p.m. Lifts will be longer than normal, in some cases up to 45 minutes.
All ships leave on Monday, June 9. Expect frequent bridge lifts and traffic delays during ship departures that morning.

Steel Bridge impacts

There will be periodic impacts to travel lanes on the upper deck. The lower deck, a bicycle and pedestrian-only facility, will be closed from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., or until the last ship arrives for the day, each day on Tuesday, June 3, and Wednesday, June 4.

For late arriving ships, if needed, the lower deck will close again from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 5.

Scheduled closures are needed to help manage crowd control from sightseers who gather to view Portland Bureau of Transportation crews preparing the seawall to receive ships and to accommodate river traffic from smaller vessels that are needed to prepare to receive larger vessels, according to a press release.

It will close again at 6 a.m. on Monday, June 9, until the last ship has departed.

Walkers, cyclists, those using a mobility device and sightseers can use the upper deck of the Steel Bridge, but should know the sidewalks are narrow — consider alternative routes and bridges.

TriMet buses and trains will provide regular service across the Steel Bridge during Fleet Week, but riders should prepare for delays. Buses and MAX will be temporarily disrupted during bridge lifts for ship arrivals and departures.