New trail segment along Lower River Road to enhance connectivity, recreation and safety for the community

VANCOUVER – Port of Vancouver USA commissioners today awarded Advanced Excavating Specialist from Kelso, Washington the construction contract to extend the bike and pedestrian pathway along NW Lower River Road.

Construction of the 0.66-mile Segments 4 and 5 will begin this summer and extend the shared-use trail from NW Gateway Avenue to the westernmost intersection of NW Old Lower River Road and NW Lower River Road. With an expected completion by the end of 2025, the trail extension will mark significant progress toward the port’s multiphase effort to create a continuous multi-modal corridor between downtown Vancouver and the Flushing Channel at Vancouver Lake.

This latest phase builds on more than a decade of planning, successful pursuit of grant funding and community collaboration. The project was first launched in 2013 when the port received two Transportation Alternatives Program grants totaling more than $350,000 to kickstart work on the initial segments. Since then, the port has steadily expanded the pathway with additional support from federal and state transportation partners.

“We recognize people love to walk, bike and connect to destinations throughout this beautiful area, and the port is excited to help them do it more safely and efficiently,” said Julianna Marler, CEO of the Port of Vancouver USA.

The work will include:

• Clearing and roadway excavation

• Paving and concrete work, including ADA-compliant features and street trees

• Reinforced slopes, retaining walls, and guardrails

• Traffic control, erosion control, signage, striping, and landscaping

• Creation of a native pollinator habitat with native plantings to support biodiversity

• Additional site features such as trail access points with lighted intersections to improve public access and connectivity

The majority of the design for these newest segments was funded through grants awarded by the Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council (RTC), totaling $595,000 in federal funding — with $280,000 allocated to Segment 4 and $315,000 to Segment 5.

When fully complete, the pathway will extend approximately 4.5 miles along NW Lower River Road and serve as a critical stretch of a larger countywide trail system. This regional network will eventually connect Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Washougal to the Columbia River Renaissance Trail and to Frenchman’s Bar Regional Park in Vancouver — creating a continuous, multi-use corridor that supports recreation, commuting, and environmental stewardship throughout Clark County.

The Port of Vancouver USA is one of the major ports on the Pacific Coast, and its competitive strengths include available land, versatile cargo handling capabilities, vast transportation networks, a skilled labor force and an exceptional level of service to its customers and community. For more information, please visit us at portvanusa.com.