New Sidewalks and Bike Lanes on Market Street

UPDATE – Crews are beginning work on SE Market Street’s sidewalks and corners. Expect some disruption to normal traffic patterns during the next few weeks.

Original story from December 17th, 2020.

Continuous sidewalks and bike lanes are coming to SE Market street as part of a Greenway expansion program. Starting at SE 92nd Ave, improvements on Market street will extend east to 130th Ave. This work includes Curb Extensions and new Curb Ramps along the project’s path.

The East Portland Access to Employment and Education project is principally focused east of Montavilla. Market Street is one of a handful of East Portland streets that cross over Interstate 205 (I205). Consequently, it’s heavily used by cars, bikes, and pedestrians trying to cross the freeway. Although there are some sidewalk segments between 92nd Ave and the overpass, they are not continuous. East of I205, sidewalks become less consistent on Market Street.

SE Market street will gain bike lanes starting just before the freeway overpass heading east. The new safe bike route will connect with the future 4M Neighborhood Greenway in the outer Southeast. Sidewalk infill on SE Market Street will branch out north on SE Cherry Blossom Drive towards SE Washington Street. At completion, these projects will add approximately 75 new ADA ramps.

The intersection of 92nd Ave and Market Street is the only Montavilla location receiving new ramps as part of this construction. Reconstruction of the northwest and southeast corners will add Curb Extensions to the sidewalk. Curb Extensions extend the sidewalk area into the parking lane, making pedestrians increasingly visible to cars before they cross. Additionally, they shorten the distance of a crosswalk for the pedestrian.

These improvements will make another safe crossing point over I205 and help residents connect with neighborhoods and services to the east. This section of Montavilla is quickly becoming a dense traffic area during peak travel times. Hopefully, this project will improve conditions and give people alternatives to driving when navigating these streets.