On Friday, April 12th, cement masons formed more raised concrete traffic separators on NE 72nd Drive at the Rose City Golf Course. Last month, crews installed a new heavy-gauge steel single-lane gate made by Mechanical Design Inc. This hardened infrastructure prevents northbound automotive travel on this street, allowing pedestrians and cyclists to use that lane away from motorists. It replaces concrete jersey barriers temporarily installed by the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) after the unauthorized removal of other traffic diversion infrastructure.
Landowners often use the Forest Sentry gate in remote locations where restricting unauthorized vehicle access is necessary for safety. Its one-piece design and solid construction resist sag or damage by extending its structure under the roadway. Golf course maintenance vehicles still need northbound access to this road, and a reliable gate is an essential part of this road reconfiguration. A recently built multi-use path leads from NE Tillamook Street to the north side of the gate, allowing cyclists and pedestrians access. The 600 feet of concrete traffic separators discourage vehicles from driving around the gate by heading in the wrong direction using the southbound lane.
These updates are part of the 70s Neighborhood Greenway project, nearing completion. NE 72nd Drive is a narrow street that challenges modern two-way traffic in segments due to tree placement and embankments. Removing one lane of travel allows for continued multimodal use. However, some area residents oppose this closure as it adds a 1.3-mile detour for northbound drivers to navigate around the golf course. Cyclists traveling north should note that the new traffic separators also make it difficult to safely ride around the gate from the roadway. They should instead use the multi-use path until past the gate. Southbound users can continue to use the street unobstructed.
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