Road crews have reduced travel lanes on SE 82nd Avenue as workers reconstruct the southbound segment of the street. This work at SE Ash Street at 82nd Avenue supports a new signalized crossing and traffic pattern change underway. Recently, utility workers and cement masons have gradually moved this project forward, completing new eastern sidewalk corners and northbound repaving earlier this year. Work will now focus on westside corner reconstruction and the installation of a more durable support base layer and curb.
Contractors working for the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) cut through the road surface at this intersection, where a gravel-supported outer lane compacted over time. They removed the existing pedestrian refuge island and paved over the center turn lane so it could act as a travel lane as crews shifted traffic away from the work zone. The new mid-street structure will offer pedestrian cutouts for at-grade crossings from both corners of SE Ash Street but prevent drivers from turning left and prohibit cars from traveling through the intersection on SE Ash Street.
This project is part of the “82nd Avenue Critical Fixes” collection of safety improvements underway across 82nd Avenue. PBOT expects work to conclude in 2026, but crews will likely complete this segment ahead of other locations included in this package of critical fixes. This project will create planter space for street trees or other vegetation in the raised concrete median, and updated stormwater inlets will improve rainwater management at this intersection.
The crossing point will see a significant uptick in usage after future developments break ground at this intersection. The Episcopal Church in Western Oregon owns the property on the southwest corner and intends to redevelop the former church site for affordable housing. The owner of the former RV sales lot on the southeast corner investigated building a food cart pod in 2022 and may pursue that development or other increased activity usage. Those pending changes to the intersection’s usage reinforce a need for a safer crossing on this street.
Drivers should be cautious when traveling past the worksite and expect to encounter roadblocks when attempting to cross SE 82nd Avenue on SE Ash Street. Pedestrians may want to cross at E Burnside Street or SE Stark Street until PBOT crews complete this new signalized crossing.
Disclosure: The author of this article serves on the Building a Better 82nd Community Advisory Group