When it comes to recycling. Portland is a leader.

Now the Pearl District Neighborhood Association is taking that concept to a new and very expensive level.

The association is finding a new use for the old bridge to Sauvie Island.

If all goes as planned it will be a new foot and bike only overpass crossing I-405 at Northwest Flanders, Avenue. It's designed to bridge the gap between the Pearl and NW 23rd Street.

It's been talked for years, but now the idea is picking up more steam. But at what price?

Portland's blueprint calls for building a new twelve footwide span across I-405.

But, the Pearl District Neighborhood Association sees the Sauvie Bridge as a better solution. Construction began on a new bridge about a year ago. It's being built along side the old bridge.

"To get forty feet of pedestrian way, to get forty feet of bicycle way it's immense, "said Patty Gardner with the Pearl District Neighborhood association. She says there's another reason to recycle the bridge.

"It's the history, to have something that has legitimacy. And it's been around for 50 years, that's incredible. You cannot create that."

In an article published by the Portland Business Journal, writer Andy Giegerich reports the city is in favor of recycling the 500 ton bridge, but only if the neighborhood association can pay the extra $2.5 million dollars it will cost to move, to build new foundations and to repaint the bridge. That's twice the cost of building a new bridge.

"We have heard from the community that they're willing to dig into their pockets to come up with that difference," said Roland Chlapowski, senior policy director for city commissioner Sam Adams, who is in charge of the city's transportation plans.

The Pearl District Neighborhood Association will use tax incremental funding and help from the Portland Development Commission to foot the bill for some of the the extra cost. The rest will come from private donors. That's welcome news for walkers including David Leeth. He moved to the Pearl District and got rid of his car and said he'll use the bridge recycled or new.

"Anything that's pedestrian dedicated, I think would be great, he said."

For cyclist Don Crew, he knows getting across the 405 is a daily challenge. He says spending the extra money to recycle is part of the Portland spirit.

Crew said, "It would be nice to be out of the main traffic lanes."

It will be another six months before any decision is made on a new versus recycled bridge. And it will take at least a year before the old Sauvie Island bridge is ready to find new life over I-405 or sold for scrap.