Road crews repaved a section of SE Division Street between SE 87th and 82nd Avenue this week. Workers redirected traffic, reducing the road to one travel lane in each direction and closing some side street access. This current activity marks the final stages of the combined TriMet Division Transit Project and the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) Outer Division Safety Project. Over the next month, repaving efforts will continue up to SE 92nd Avenue, and crews will activate new traffic signals on SE Division Street from SE 80th to 174th Avenues.

Initially, the two projects lacked ADA corner ramp restoration and repaving between SE 82nd to 92nd Avenues. PBOT was issued additional funding to repair the pavement in this area and enhance sidewalk accessibility. Crews will complete the final striping along the corridor after completing the pavement restoration this summer.

As part of its project, PBOT added many new or improved traffic signals to enhance safety for pedestrians and vehicles crossing SE Division. Within the Montavilla area, crews from Raimore Construction built three new controlled intersections and upgraded older signals at SE 92nd Avenue. Traffic lights at the new controlled intersections are in various stages of completion. SE 80th Avenue and Division Street is complete, with new lights hung on pole-attached mast arms. The lights are shrouded with Signal Head Covers, awaiting activation.

Signal work is needed at two of the new traffic-light-controlled intersections. SE Division and 89th Avenue, along with SE Division and 84th Avenue, are awaiting traffic head installation. Based on PBOT timelines, staff should activate all three new controlled intersections sometime in July. Traffic signals will turn on in sequential order, from east to west. The change may catch some regular commuters off-guard, as it will break up previously uninterrupted thoroughfares, requiring greater driver attention to the road.

After repaving work completes, painters will re-stripe the road and add protected bike lanes in each direction of SE Division Street. The enhanced cycle route spans SE 80th to 174th Avenues and utilizes vertical delineator wands, raised dividers, and some parking lane buffer zones.

Expect lane closures and delays as repaving work continues over the next two weeks. Later this month, drivers should prepare for new traffic-light-controlled interactions to become active in the area. By the end of summer, crews should complete all work on SE Division Street, and in September, rapid bus service will begin on the new Trimet FX line.

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