On April 8th, road painting crews begin work to reconfigure NE Halsey Street between 68th and 81st Avenues. Truck-mounted equipment scrubbed the existing travel lane markings from asphalt while workers affixed temporary plastic reflectors to the removed paint’s location so drivers could continue to use the street. The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) expects the contractor to return within a few days to restripe the street in a new configuration. Drivers will lose one travel lane in each direction between NE 68th and 81st Avenues but gain a center turn lane, aiding in safer left turns. Cyclists will receive bike lanes on both sides of NE Halsey Street from NE 68th 81st Avenues.
PBOT representative Hannah Schafer explained that their pavement marking contractor is waiting for dry weather to restripe the street. Earlier this year, project managers delayed work on a 70s Neighborhood Greenway-related improvement that will create protected crossings at NE 76th Avenue and Halsey Street. Two pedestrian refuge islands and a small raised concrete median on NE Halsey Street will reside in the center turn lane at this intersection. However, cement masons could not begin that work until crews created a center lane by reducing the travel lanes. Crossing improvement work can occur after the contractor completes the street marking work.
Residents challenged by the current conditions on this dangerous roadway have advocated for improvements for nearly a decade. Its old four travel lane configuration drops to two lanes west of NE 71st Avenue and east of NE 81st Avenue, creating an odd section of greater vehicle capacity that induces speeding. Reduced travel lanes and better crossings are just some of the updates aimed at making this a safer stretch of road. A new mini roundabout, flashing beacons, and high visibility crosswalk markings will help people cross the street in this area with reduced worry that a driver will not see them.
Drivers on NE Halsey Street should expect construction delays as crews paint the asphalt over the next few days and workers begin constructing the in-road safety infrastructure. Pedestrians and cyclists should use extreme caution around incomplete safety improvements and note that traffic pattern changes could distract motorists.
Update: On April 11th, crews with Hicks Striping & Curbing returned to NE Halsey to paint the streets with a new lane configuration and add marked crossings at NE 76th Avenue.
Update: Soon after crews restriped the roadway, cement masons returned to install two pedestrian refuge islands and a small raised concrete median on NE Halsey Street at NE 76th Avenue.
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