New Curb Ramps on NE 87th from Hassalo to Glisan

Crews with the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s (PBOT) recently completed concrete work on sidewalk corner ramps along the west side of NE 87th Avenue from NE Hassalo Street to NE Glisan Street. These Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant curb ramps create a mostly accessible path through a section of Montavilla with inconsistent pedestrian infrastructure. The northeast section of the neighborhood’s connectivity is further burdened by two freeways bordering it to the east and north. The heavy traffic of NE 82nd Avenue and NE Glisan Street surrounds the other edges of these blocks, creating challenges for people traveling in this area outside of a car.

Construction site showing traffic barriers and vehicles near new sidewalk corner ramps on NE 78th Avenue. — Northeast corner NE Glisan St and 87th Ave

Sidewalk corner ramp construction with barriers and construction signs on NE 78th Avenue in Montavilla, Portland. — Northeast corner NE Glisan St and 87th Ave

Cement masons reconstructed eight sidewalk corners along NE 87th Avenue and added a mid-block curb ramp on the south side of NE Glisan Street across from the northeast corner of 87th Avenue at the NE Glisan intersection. This project creates an opportunity for a near-continuously paved north-south pedestrian path between NE Hassalo Street and NE Glisan Street, intersecting with NE Pacific and Holladay Streets. However, missing paved sidewalks on the northern edges of 8631 and 8636 NE Holladay Street will require pedestrians to walk through the grassy lawns of these homes to connect from the new ADA curb ramps to the existing paved sidewalks. Future redevelopment of those properties could require the installation of new sidewalks, completing the pedestrian connection.

Map showing pavement moratorium and planned paving projects in the Montavilla neighborhood of Portland, highlighting Multnomah University and surrounding streets. — *_{Image from Portland Maps showing planned paving of NE 87th Ave in purple}*

This corner work is taking place ahead of other planned street improvements. Portland Maps indicates PBOT intends to repave NE 87th Avenue from NE Flanders Street to NE Hassalo Street. That future work, along with the curb ramp improvements, will strengthen NE 87th Avenue in its role as a Neighborhood Greenway. It is one of the few crossings on NE Glisan Street in the neighborhood with a traffic signal light or Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB) to help people cross the busy roadway. People traveling outside a car should now feel more comfortable using NE 87th Avenue to navigate the neighborhood, thanks to these transportation bureau investments.

View of a newly constructed sidewalk corner ramp with construction barriers and traffic cones on the corner of NE 78th Avenue and NE Pacific Street in Montavilla, Oregon. — NE 87th Ave at Pacific St

View of a residential corner at NE 78th Avenue and NE Holladay Street, featuring newly constructed ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps and a road construction sign. — NE 87th Ave at Pacific St

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Correction: An earlier version of this article had NE 87th Avenue noted as NE 78th Avenue in one location. That typo has been corrected.

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