Category: Infrastructure

Infrastructure

SE Thorburn Stark and Washington Lane Striping

On August 25th, crews with Specialized Pavement Marking (SPM) removed lane markings on SE Thorburn, Stark, and Washington Streets as part of the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s (PBOT) reconfiguration of the roads for safer bike and pedestrian use. When road stripers repaint the streets, drivers on SE Thorburn and Washington Streets lose a lane of travel in each direction, and cyclists will gain bike lanes with protection in most places from SE Gilham Avenue to SE 92nd Avenue. PBOT will retain much of the existing street parking on both sides of SE Washington Street for a critical two-block segment. The road striping plan will replace removed curbside parking on SE Washington with bike-lane-adjacent parking from SE 76th to 80th Avenues to create a protected buffer for the five-foot-wide curbside cyclist route. Driving lane reductions on SE Thorburn Street and parts of SE Gilham Avenue will create space for a painted bike lane on the northwest traveling side of the road and a raised concrete traffic separator-protected bike lane on the southeast traveling side, with space for an on-pavement pedestrian track where missing sidewalks have previously challenged pedestrian access.

View of a residential street with bike lane signage and parked cars along the side, indicating road adjustments for safer cycling and parking.
SE Washington Street with MV News created illustrations showing approximate lane configuration (not to scale)

This work is part of the Jade and Montavilla Multimodal Improvements Project. The SPM crews will add over 20 marked parking spaces on SE Washington Street, replacing the southernmost travel lane. The recrated parking capacity offers slightly fewer stalls than the removed spaces. Still, it is a significant benefit for area businesses and residents living in housing on that street who do not have on-site parking options. Its design also offers cyclists a physical buffer between fast-moving downhill traffic. The project will likewise reconfigure SE Stark Street west of SE 76th Avenue. The existing bike lane will extend west, replacing curbside parking with some adjacent spaces created between the travel lane and the bike path. A new traffic signal planned for a later phase in this project will aid cyclists turning south at SE 76th and Stark, and the southernmost lane of SE Stark Street will transition into a left-turn-only lane at the signal.

View of a street intersection featuring a tree, parked car, and road markings indicating upcoming changes. There are traffic cones and a no parking sign visible.

SE Washington Street Bike lanes east of SE 80th Avenue will use a mix of concrete traffic separator-protected bike lane cycling infrastructure and shared bus-bike lanes up to SE 92nd Avenue. Striping plans show TriMet bus drivers will have a consistent bus lane from SE 80th Avenue past SE 90th Avenue, with motorists having right-turn-only access to that bus lane at intersections. PBOT recently enhanced the crossings of SE Washington and Stark Streets at SE 84th Avenue for north-south traveling pedestrians. On SE Washington Street, new corners offer Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant curb ramps, curb extensions on the north side have shortened the crossing distance, and new pavement markings underway will add high-visibility crosswalks.

Digital sign displaying 'EXPECT LONG DELAYS' with traffic cones and a street sign for 76th Avenue in the background.

Drivers can anticipate disruptions to travel on SE Thorburn, Stark, and Washington Streets during the project work times of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. this week. People should anticipate seeing changes to traffic patterns and look for new signage indicating where parking is permitted. Motorists and pedestrians need to observe worker instructions and follow temporary routes when necessary as crews work in the street.

Construction, Infrastructure

SE Washington Repaving From SE 82nd to 92nd

On August 14th, crews working with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) will begin repairing and repaving SE Washington Street from SE 82nd Avenue to SE 92nd Avenue. The week-and-a-half-long project will disrupt traffic as heavy equipment grinds down old asphalt and spreads a new layer of aggregate bound with bitumen. However, crews will maintain one lane of eastward travel on the one-way street for motorists and transit access. Sidewalks will remain open for pedestrians during construction. Signal installation specialists are currently working on SE 82nd Avenue and SE Washington Street, installing a left-turn light for southbound motorists turning east.

Map illustrating Montavilla improvements including types of enhancements such as ADA curb ramps, bike lanes, pedestrian crossings, and upgraded traffic signals.
Graphic courtesy PBOT

PBOT expects active work hours to run from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. during business days, and crews may need to work during the weekend. Contractors plan to complete one travel lane before moving to the adjacent side of the street so people can always travel through the area, but some local access may become blocked as crews work. Flaggers and barricades will allow TriMet buses to move through travel lanes under construction. However, riders should check for any temporary stop closures or delays impacting the 15 bus line.

View of SE Washington Street featuring traffic signs, crosswalks, and surrounding greenery, near SE 92nd Avenue.
SE Washington St looking west at SE 82nd Ave

This work supports the Jade and Montavilla Multimodal Improvements Project underway to improve pedestrian and multimodal travel. Work on this project has already replaced gravel streets on segments of SE Clinton Street with new sidewalks and pavement. Road crews are continuing improvements to sidewalks along SE 85th Avenue from SE Division Street to SE Powell Boulevard, creating a calm and continuous pedestrian pathway parallel to SE 82nd Avenue. After PBOT repaves SE Washington Street during this phase of work, crews will permanently remove curbside parking on the south side of the street east of SE 80th Avenue and begin installing protected bike lanes against the curb up to SE 92nd Avenue, with a bus and right-turn-only lane next to it. Striping plans show TriMet bus drivers will have a consistent bus lane from SE 80th Avenue past SE 90th Avenue, with motorists having right-turn-only access to that bus lane at intersections. The SE 86th Avenue intersection will use a shared bus, bicycle, and right-turn lane due to the narrow street created by extended curbs installed in 2023.

View of SE Washington Street featuring a hydrant and trees along the roadside, with a partially repaved street and visible construction signs.
Recently enhanced crossings of SE Washington St at SE 84th Ave

PBOT recently enhanced the crossings of SE Washington Street at SE 84th Avenue for north-south traveling pedestrians. New corners offer Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant curb ramps and curb extensions on the north side, shortening the crossing distance. After repaving, high-visibility crosswalks on the east and west edges of the intersection will indicate to drivers they need to yield for pedestrians at this enhanced crossing.

Two workers in safety gear are using a bucket truck to install traffic signals at the intersection of SE Washington Street and SE 82nd Avenue, with street signs visible.
Signal crews with Interlaken installing a left-turn light for southbound motorists turning east

Signs placed along SE Washington Street prohibit curbside parking on both sides of the street from SE 82nd Avenue to just east of SE 92nd Avenue. Drivers should anticipate some delays when traveling through the worksite, and people should follow crew instructions to remain safe on the street. Drivers may want to use an alternate route for the next seven business days. NE Glisan Street is a viable alternative for those trying to drive to the Gateway district or connect to Interstate-205.

Update August 18th, 2025: PBOT road crews began grinding of the top layer of old asphalt in the southernmost lane of SE Washington Street from SE 82nd to 92nd Avenues.

A street construction scene featuring heavy machinery on SE Washington Street, with workers in safety vests overseeing the repaving process.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Otter Wax, a neighborhood producer of small-batch specialty goods handcrafted in Portland. Using only natural ingredients, they make modern care products that are steeped in tradition. We thank them for their support.

Construction, Infrastructure

New Block of NE Couch Under Construction as New NE Davis Blocks Open to Traffic

Road crews recently formed the base layer of Portland’s newest roadway as part of a Gateway District street improvement project, adding one block of NE Couch Street between NE 97th and NE 99th Avenues. Contractors recently opened two blocks of NE Davis Street between NE 97th and NE 100th Avenues, built during the first phase of this Local Improvement District (LID) construction that has created an urban-scale street grid, sidewalks, and other roadway amenities. The LID makes way for expected redevelopment in this area at an urban scale. The new segment of NE Davis Street is now fully open to through traffic and pedestrians, but concrete blocks prevent curbside parking along the road fronted by mostly underdeveloped lots.

Construction scene showing heavy machinery and a newly graded roadway in Portland's Gateway District.
NE Couch St extension looking east from NE 97th Ave

Workers have already completed the reconstruction of NE 97th Avenue from East Burnside Street to the new NE Davis Street segment, which has changed the appearance and function of the formerly curbless road. Portland engineers have long planned to vacate stub sections of NE Couch and Davis Streets west of NE 97th Avenue, which were rendered useless due to Interstate-205’s construction blocking meaningful street-grid connections on that side of the street. The west side of the street features curb ramps for crossing to sidewalk corners at the new eastward NE Couch and Davis Streets.

Map of the NE 97th Avenue and Couch/Davis Street Project, highlighting types of improvements such as paving, street extensions, sidewalks, ADA curb ramps, marked crosswalks, traffic signal rebuild, and safer bike crossings.
PBOT provided graphic

Demolition crews removed a steel building that was part of the International Collision Repair property at 9817 E Burnside Street to create this new segment of NE Couch Street. The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) bought a portion of the land under the building for this improvement project. Contractors working with PBOT will continue to install new sidewalk corners featuring Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant curb ramps and street lighting in the LID area, while including space for street trees, making for a safer and more useful area for all Portlanders.

Aerial view of a city block showing NE 97th Avenue and NE 99th Avenue, with highlighted property boundaries and surrounding parking lots.
Aerial image from Portland Maps of NE Couch St extension outlined in blue extending through 9817 E Burnside St property

Although these new roads add to the viability of future density in the Gateway District, those redevelopment projects are years away from breaking ground. Substantial private development in this area has not materialized like City planners expected when they dramatically upzoned lots to support downtown-scale buildings in this District. Additionally, the recent announcements that the owners of Gateway Shopping Center listed the 24-acre retail complex for sale, and Fred Meyer’s decision to close its anchor grocery store at that location, are adding to community concerns that positive change in the Gateway District is a decade away.

View of a newly paved street at the intersection of NE Couch Street and NE 99th Avenue in Portland, Oregon, featuring concrete blocks to prevent parking, a stop sign, and surrounding greenery.
Now open NE Davis St looking east from NE 99th Ave

The streets in the District are already frequented by houseless people camping adjacent to empty lots or near the sparse single-family houses in the LID. The concrete blocks preventing curbside parking dissuade some people from settling in the area. Still, the relatively inactive streets naturally attract people without shelter looking for a temporary place to sleep. The new streets should help people driving and biking navigate the area. However, redevelopment within these new blocks will likely need to wait for the right investor to see promise in the Gateway District.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Greg Beddor – SEO Specialist, an Oregon based digital marketing consultancy. The company markets customer’s websites and provide SEO services to grow their business. We thank them for their support.

Construction, Infrastructure

Paved SE Clinton Street Open to All Users

Recently, crews and cement masons completed construction on new sidewalks and street paving along SE Clinton Street, converting the existing gravel road to a modern street surface from SE 84th Place to 87th Avenue. This project adds wide sidewalks on SE Clinton Street from SE 84th to 87th Avenues, completing a pedestrian connection from the commercial resources on SE 82nd Avenue to the residential streets east. The updated street design features a planting strip with space for small street trees or other greenery.

View of a newly paved street intersection with sidewalks on SE Clinton Street, featuring residential houses and greenery in the background.
SE Clinton St looking east from SE 85th Ave

In late March, crews working with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) began preparing sections of the Jade District for the Jade and Montavilla Multimodal Improvements Project, which will improve access along SE 85th Avenue and SE Clinton Street for all road users in the area and give people traveling outside a car the calmer parallel path to 82nd Avenue that residents have requested for years. This work includes improving connector routes like SE Clinton Street from the safer parallel infrastructure to the commercial district. In November 2019, the City of Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability released the Building Healthy Connected Communities Along Division Transit report, which the City Council adopted in December 2019. Most sidewalks in the project area will receive updated Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant curb ramps, allowing all pedestrians to navigate the area, mostly separated from car traffic.

A newly paved street with wide sidewalks and landscaping on SE Clinton Street, featuring a smooth road surface and wooden fencing along the properties.
SE Clinton St looking west from SE 87th Ave

This project will also add new sidewalks to the Jade District west of 82nd Avenue on SE Tibbetts Street. That work will provide sidewalk infill where some blocks lack consistent pedestrian pavement down to SE 78th Avenue. Road crews will also repave SE Tibbetts Street from SE 78th to 80th Avenues. Almost a decade ago, the City identified the importance of better pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure in Montavilla and the Jade District.

View of newly paved SE Clinton Street, featuring fresh asphalt, marked crosswalks, and a clear blue sky.
SE Clinton St looking east from west of SE 84th Pl

This multimodal improvement project demonstrates the impact of community participation in city infrastructure planning efforts and highlights the time it takes to develop actionable plans with adequate funding. Together, the collection of enhancements costs $9,094,000 but should not impact the City’s general fund. Money for these improvements comes from $3,200,000 in Federal funds, with an additional $4,900,000 from the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocations. PBOT will source the remaining $994,000 from System Development Charges paid by developers. This work should significantly improve access within two critical commercial centers and add to general safety for those traveling outside of a car. Look for construction in Jade and Montavilla Multimodal Improvements Project zones to continue through 2025.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Otter Wax, a neighborhood producer of small-batch specialty goods handcrafted in Portland. Using only natural ingredients, they make modern care products that are steeped in tradition. We thank them for their support.

Crime, Infrastructure

Traffic Citation Cameras Taken Down for Replacement

After a year, the newer intersection safety camera systems the City of Portland installed along 82nd Avenue are missing from their poles as the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) works with a new vendor to augment the traffic enforcement network. In summer 2024, crews installed new cameras along 82nd Avenue and other places in the City to dissuade speeding and running red lights in areas prone to crashes. The now-removed camera installed at 82nd Avenue at E Burnside Street monitored an intersection where a speeding vehicle killed an area resident in October 2023. PBOT officials removed many existing cameras from City Streets, making room for new devices from NovoaGlobal that crews will install by November 1st. Around that time, project planners expect to add three additional locations to the safety camera network, increasing PBOT’s tools that support its goal to eliminate vehicular-related deaths and serious injuries on city streets.

A close-up view of a tall traffic camera pole against a cloudy sky, showcasing the pole's metal structure and mounting brackets where cameras are typically attached.
Intersection safety camera pole on 82nd Ave at E Burnside St stripped of its equipment

The City of Portland’s change of vendors will unify the traffic law enforcement camera system to a single company for 15 speed safety cameras and 17 intersection safety cameras. Revenue from camera citations and registration fees for traffic safety diversion classes supports the cost of the cameras. The City is required to spend any future earnings from the automated citation system on traffic safety programs or improvements, and fines will not contribute to the City’s general budget.

Close-up of a pole with a circular mount where a safety camera was previously installed, showing signs of wear.
Weather plug on intersection safety camera pole where wires connected to hardware

The City has 32 cameras, and the Portland Police Bureau operates two Traffic Division mobile speed enforcement vans that the City will also upgrade with NovoaGlobal equipment. For some City leaders, that is too few to reduce risky driving behavior adequately, and they advocate for expanding the program. Portland City Councilor Steve Novick said in a KOIN News interview that he is interested in emulating other jurisdictions with fewer traffic fatalities per capita, where they have substantially more cameras in use. However, some residents oppose the automated cameras used in issuing citations. Objections voiced include concerns about excessive government surveillance, fining drivers instead of building infrastructure that encourages safety, and the inequitable distribution of cameras across the City that could penalize poorer communities.

Traffic camera pole graffiti reading “For The love (heart symbol) of money (dollar sign)”

In more extreme cases of community protest against citation cameras, people sometimes tag or vandalize equipment. Portland’s network of cameras suffered damage in 2024 at the hands of a shooter who targeted these devices. Police apprehended a suspect in the case who they accused of causing over $500,000 in damage to more than a dozen traffic cameras across the City. The message from these destructive and sometimes dangerous activities often focuses on the fines’ impact on people. PBOT and some street safety advocates in favor of this type of deterrent stress the importance of changing harmful road behavior through a variety of methods, including fines. There is a recognized danger of systems becoming dependent on fines and favoring revenue growth over correcting harmful behavior. However, rules on camera placement and revenue use could limit the potential for misuse.

Drivers in Portland can expect to see up to 35 cameras operational by the end of 2025, with a new unit on SE Powell Boulevard at 34th Avenue monitoring westbound drivers, NE 82nd Avenue at Fremont Street facing southbound motorists, and NE 82nd Avenue at Klickitat Street watching northbound vehicles. All new cameras have a 30-day warning period before people caught by the devices receive citations. By January 2026, PBOT will install two cameras on SW Barbur Boulevard in the 5900 to 6100 blocks.

PBOT notes that incidents involving speeds higher than posted are a top contributing factor to deadly crashes across the Portland region. Additionally, ignoring traffic signals causes a significant number of crashes. Camera citations are not the only solution needed for safer streets. However, a majority of surveyed Portland residents support the expanded use of traffic cameras. People should anticipate the new cameras returning in the next few months as crews rebuild the network under a unified system.

Article and phots by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Consider visiting Montavilla New’s supporter East Portland News as it continues to advocate for and report on outer East Portland. You will find frequently updated articles and an archive of more than 5,000 stories written over the past 20+ years alongside a robust Community Calendar of events.

Infrastructure

SE 82nd at Division Paving Two weeks in August

Drivers using SE 82nd Avenue and SE Division Street should anticipate two weeks of traffic disruption starting on Monday, August 4th. Crews from Raimore Construction working with The Portland Bureau of Transportation’s (PBOT) will close lanes for repaving from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday during the project, with two Friday night work times from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Saturday. That overnight construction occurs on August 8th to 9th and August 15th to 16th, when the project planners estimate the repaving work will conclude. During the traffic disruption, barriers will consolidate 82nd Avenue to one lane in each direction, and flaggers will prohibit left turns onto Division Street during working hours.

Traffic signal at the intersection of SE 82nd Avenue and Division Street, showing vehicles waiting at a red light and a pedestrian crossing.

This roadwork supports ongoing safety and maintenance upgrades on 82nd Avenue required to address deferred maintenance issues identified after the jurisdictional transfer of the former state Highway from the Oregon Department of Transportation to PBOT on June 1st, 2022. Unlike many repaving projects that only grind off the top layer of asphalt and replace it with a fresh mixture of aggregate and bitumen, this project requires more significant work in the outer lanes. In its early stages, 82nd Avenue initially supported only three lanes of traffic, with one lane for vehicles traveling in each direction and a center turn lane. Transportation officials reserved the outer edges of the street for parking, and engineers did not build parking pavement to the same standard as the street’s center. When transportation officials removed parking to add another travel lane in each direction, they did not update the road’s supporting base, leading to premature wear. Crews working on this project will need to remove the outer lanes to their base layer and reengineer it to support the weight of vehicles in motion above it before repaving the whole surface. The results will provide a smoother road surface that should last longer before requiring future repairs.

Diagram illustrating the paving process for the 82nd Avenue major maintenance project, depicting steps for excavation, grinding, and paving along with construction of median center islands and tree planting.
Paving graphic courtesy PBOT

PBOT expects the early August work to create significant traffic impacts, with the greatest delays occurring during the morning and evening commutes. All street users should anticipate delays, including pedestrians and transit users. Crews will turn off the traffic signal at SE 82nd Avenue and Division, and flaggers will direct traffic through the intersection. North and southbound drivers on 82nd Avenue will only have the option to travel straight or turn right at SE Division Street. Excavation work on the outer lanes will temporarily block some business driveway access. Raimore Construction representatives will work with affected properties to limit workplace disruptions, and drivers must follow worker directions in the worksite to remain safe and not cause damage by driving into an unsafe space.

View of SE 82nd Avenue showing traffic cones and construction barriers alongside the road, indicating ongoing repaving work.

Repaving will begin on the west side of SE 82nd Avenue and transition to the east side of the street midway through the project. PBOT anticipates that at least one travel lane in each direction will remain open. Businesses on 82nd Avenue will remain open during construction. However, locations closest to the roadwork should expect dust, noise, and vibrations from the heavy equipment working in the area. Street sweeping equipment will traverse the site to remove construction debris. TriMet’s website does not currently list any stop closures for the 72 bus line, but transit riders should check for service impacts before heading out between August 4th and 16th.

Update August 5,2025: TriMet stopes in the area re closed with the following message about temporary stop locations. “Through Friday, August 8, no service to the southbound stops at 2200 Block 82nd (Stop ID 7923), SE 82nd & Clinton (Stop ID 7948) and SE 82nd & Division (Stop ID 7958) due to construction. Use the temporary stops approx. 400 ft north of 2200 Block on utility pole, and approx.500 ft south of Clinton on utility pole.”

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Greg Beddor – SEO Specialist, an Oregon based digital marketing consultancy. The company markets customer’s websites and provide SEO services to grow their business. We thank them for their support.

Infrastructure

SE Harrison ADA Curb Ramp Construction

Work is well underway on constructing three curb ramps on SE Harrison Street between SE 76th and 75th Avenues. This July, crews working with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) demolished old sidewalk infrastructure before reconstruction of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant ramps on a route frequently used by pedestrians and cyclists accessing Mt. Tabor Park. This sidewalk corner reconstruction will complete accessible infrastructure work on this segment of SE Harrison Street, started in 2023. However, paved sidewalks on this street are functionally non-existent west of SE 75th Avenue through the park.

Aerial view of SE 75th Avenue and SE Harrison Street, highlighting three curb ramp locations marked with red circles amidst residential properties and trees.
Portland Maps aerial view of SE Harrison St, SE 76th Ave, and 75th Ave with MV News red circles indicating work areas

The accessible curb ramp construction work is occurring at two “T” intersections, with the mid-block north-most parallel curb ramp recently completed. Engineers reserve this less common design for curb-tight sidewalks where there is not enough room for a level turning space at the top of the ramp. Instead of a single slope to the street, two opposing sidewalk ramps lower the sidewalk surface to a flat space that allows a person using a mobility device to turn 90 degrees before crossing at street level.

Construction of an accessible curb ramp on a residential street, showing a newly poured concrete ramp, yellow tactile paving, and stormwater catch basin.
Parallel curb ramp on north side of SE Harrison St at SE 75th Ave

For north-south traveling pedestrians on the west side of SE 76th Avenue, the newly reconstructed southwest corner ramp will align with the existing northwest extended sidewalk corner. This design encourages people wanting to cross SE 76th Avenue to use the high-visibility crosswalk that extends over the intersection’s northern crossing point. The southwest corner had an existing ramp that no longer complies with ADA standards and needed reconstruction to better provide universal access.

  • Southeast corner of SE Harrison and 75th mid-reconstruction
  • Southwest corner of SE Harrison and 76th mid-reconstruction
  • Southeast corner of SE Harrison and 75th pre-construction
  • Southwest corner of SE Harrison and 76th pre-construction

Curb ramp reconstruction often requires stormwater improvements to keep water from blocking the repositioned crossing points. This project added four stormwater catch basins to SE Harrison Street, reducing the impact of rainwater runoff on this street, which is downslope from Mt. Tabor.

Construction site for curb ramps on SE Harrison Street, featuring caution tape, traffic barriers, and signage from the City of Portland Public Works.

This work is part of Portland’s commitment to its residents who need accessible access to city infrastructure. PBOT must reconstruct a set number of non-ADA-compliant sidewalk corners yearly to meet a 2018 Curb Ramp Consent Decree requirement. Road work like this project requires long stretches of good weather, and crews tend to fit them between other work. People should expect to see work continue over the next few weeks. During construction, pedestrians must use sidewalk detours or cross the street to avoid construction, and drivers should use caution while passing crews working along the street’s edge.

Update August 5, 2025: Crews poured concrete for the two remaining sidewalk corners and new stormwater catch basin curb.

Article and photos by,

Jacob Loeb

Infrastructure

Northbound NE 60th Avenue Detour

At the end of July, some northbound drivers began using an alternate route to avoid the NE 60th Avenue and Halsey Street Area Improvement Project‘s construction site. Crews working for the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) recently reached a significant milestone on the west side of NE 60th Avenue, creating new wide-sidewalks and improved stormwater handling between NE Halsey and Holladay streets. Now that work has transitioned to the east side of the roadway, two-way traffic can no longer pass in the street, and drivers must detour around the now closed northbound NE 60th Avenue.

Map illustrating the NE 60th Avenue and Halsey Street Project with various improvement types marked, including lane reconfiguration, bike lanes, and sidewalk widening.
Map showing the NE 60th Avenue detour route with markers for vehicle detour in blue and construction zone in red.
Project site maps courtesy PBOT

NE 60th Avenue is a frequently traveled road between NE Halsey and NE Glisan streets, offering people one of the limited number of overpasses across Interstate 84’s winding path through this neighborhood. Decades ago, contractors built the street with narrow curb-tight sidewalks. This street design allowed for 12-foot-wide vehicle travel lanes in each direction and ample parking on both sides of the street. As crucial as this street is for motorists navigating Portland, it also serves many pedestrians who must use it to access the NE 60th Avenue MAX light rail station adjacent to the freeway. Project planners expect the sidewalk widening and enhanced crossing points will help improve the overall safety and usability of the road while maintaining similar vehicle access.

This project will also add bike lanes on NE 60th Avenue from NE Oregon Street up to Hassalo Street, providing a critical I-84 crossing point for the 60s Neighborhood Greenway that City planners are constructing in segments across the city for enhanced non-motorist travel. The redesigned infrastructure will reduce some street parking as part of these improvements on NE 60th Avenue. Reconstructed sidewalks have curb extensions that push into the parking lane to make people waiting to cross the street more visible to drivers while remaining on the raised concrete. Curb extensions create pockets of curb parking spaces mid-block that are also protected from drivers by the extended concrete. That could entice more people to park on NE 60th Avenue, where fast-moving vehicles made street parking seem less desirable because of the risk of lane drift by drivers causing damage. The new narrower lanes and hard street infrastructure extending from the sidewalks may also induce vehicle speeds matching the posted 25 miles-per-hour limit, as similar narrowing infrastructure tends to curtail speeding.

Construction site on NE 60th Avenue with traffic cones and machinery, indicating ongoing road improvements.
NE 60th Ave looking south from NE Halsey St

Crews are currently excavating the east side of the street and removing sidewalks ahead of stormwater handling improvements. Reconstructed wider pedestrian zones will feature Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant curb ramps, similar to the ones created on the west side of the street. Road crews will then repave the street, and street painters will add the lane striping and two high-visibility crosswalks planned for NE 60th Avenue. Funding for the $9.67 million project that extends west down NE Halsey Street to NE 47th Avenue comes from money allocated in House Bill 2017, Transportation System Development Charges, General Funds, and the Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF).

Northbound drivers on NE 60th Avenue can currently turn onto NE 61st Avenue north of the freeway to bypass the construction, but soon they will need to drive on NE Glisan Street to 47th Avenue or up NE Glisan to NE 67th Avenue when bypassing the road closure. Street parking is prohibited at the construction site while work is underway. TriMet bus line 71 riders should note that the transit provider closed stops in the construction area, and they will need to utilize other stops. Pedestrians will also need to navigate around construction zones and cross the street at places to find a safe travel path. PBOT expects this phase of construction to run through October 2025, but weather-related delays could change the schedule. PBOT encourages people to track the project updates on their website. Drivers should anticipate delays on NE Halsey Street and NE 60th Avenue until the crews complete the project in Summer 2026.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Infrastructure

NE Halsey Safety and Access Project Begins

At the end of July, crews working with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) began the NE Halsey Street (68th to 92nd avenues) – Safety and Access to Transit Project, which will improve biking and walkability on NE Halsey Street. This long-anticipated project builds upon substantial street safety improvements undertaken in 2024, when roadwork reconfigured NE Halsey Street between 68th and 81st Avenues, removing a lane in each direction while adding painted buffered bike lanes and a center turn lane. Now, contractors will begin installing hard infrastructure elements designed to assist cyclists and pedestrian road users.

This project will rebuild the NE Halsey intersections at 68th and 69th Avenues, with improved bike and pedestrian crossings positioned in areas that are more visible to motorists, making it easier for people to cross. Designs presented in a 2020 survey illustrated planned changes that would rework an Interstate 84 offramp connection at this intersection to remove part of a slip lane at NE 69th Avenue and redirect exiting freeway traffic to turn onto NE Halsey Street from a perpendicular approach. With this new configuration, the eastbound bike lane can begin earlier than its current start point on NE 70th Avenue, allowing cyclists to have dedicated bike infrastructure starting just west of NE 68th Avenue.

Diagram illustrating the redesigned intersection at NE Halsey Street and NE 80th Avenue, showcasing bike lanes, crosswalks, and a roundabout for improved safety and accessibility.
2020 rendering of mini roundabout at NE Halsey and 80th Ave. Image courtesy PBOT

Crews will also install a small roundabout at NE 80th Avenue and Halsey Street to address a notoriously confusing intersection right before the east-most NE Halsey Street Bridge over I-84. Based on the 2020 draft designs, people will have access to separate high-visibility crossings for pedestrians and bikes. Rebuilt and extended corners will also shorten the crossing distance.

Map of the NE Halsey Street Safety Project showing proposed improvements like buffered bikeways, sidewalk additions, and a mini roundabout.
Project map courtesy PBOT

Starting at NE 81st Avenue, cyclists will have access to a bi-directional, buffered bike path on the south side of NE Halsey Street, extending up to NE 92nd Avenue. That bikeway will merge with another new dedicated two-way bike path on NE Jonesmore Street that connects with NE 82nd Avenue near the MAX station. PBOT plans to remove some parking spaces on the south side of NE Halsey Street to accommodate the bike route east of NE 86th Avenue. This project also aims to create new sidewalks on the north side of NE Halsey Street, between 85th and 92nd avenues, and a small section of NE 81st Avenue, on the north side as it curves to meet NE Halsey Street. That sidewalk will create a useful connector to a pedestrian path that leads to the 82nd Avenue MAX light rail and bus transit station. That pathway was temporarily closed by the city due to community safety concerns, but could reopen at a future date.

  • I-84 overpass will have two-way bike path on south side
  • Mini roundabout at NE 80th Ave, 81st Ave, and Halsey St
  • Eastbound NE Halsey St bike lane currently starting at 70th Ave
  • I-84 off-ramp slip lane onto NE Halsey St at 68th Ave
  • Closed pedestrian pathway from NE 82nd to 81st
  • Closed pedestrian pathway from NE 81st to 82nd

Contractor Interlaken Inc. will begin demolition and excavation in preparation for the installation of new sidewalks, curbs, and driveways starting in August. Work in the area will disrupt two westbound TriMet Line 77 bus stops. Stops on NE Halsey at 90th (Stop ID 2459) and 86th (Stop ID 2457) will temporarily close. TriMet asks riders to use a temporary stop 50 feet west of 86th, marked with signage attached to a “No Parking” pole. Drivers may experience temporary lane reductions. However, PBOT anticipates minimal impact on vehicle traffic. People interested in following this project can subscribe to updates on the PBOT project website. Federal funds, Transportation System Development funds, General Transportation Revenue, ODOT Bridge Program funds, and Bureau of Environmental Services funds will cover the $8,646,720 project costs.

Update August 4, 2025: Removed a 2020 PBOT rendering of NE Halsey Street and 68th Avenue that no longer reflects the current design. This article will update again when a new rendering is available.

Article and Photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Check out East Portland News as it continues to advocate for and report on outer East Portland. You will find frequently updated articles and an archive of more than 5,000 stories written over the past 20+ years alongside a robust Community Calendar of events.

Infrastructure

SE 82nd Ave Repaving for a Smoother More Stable Street

Raimore Construction, working with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT), will continue road reconstruction and repaving along SE 82nd Avenue between SE Mill and Harrison Streets over the next few weeks. Crews have already repaved half of the project area, creating a smooth asphalt surface for the two southbound lanes from SE Mill Street to just past SE Harrison Street. Construction markers direct motorists to share the completed section of roadway, allowing a single lane in each direction until workers complete the equivalent northbound lanes.

Construction scene on SE 82nd Avenue with road work barriers and uneven asphalt surface near Mocha Express.
Outer lane of SE 82nd Ave with hydraulic breaker hammer driven holes ahead of demolition

Unlike many repaving projects that grind off the top layer of asphalt and replace it with a fresh mixture of aggregate and bitumen, this project requires more significant work in the outer lanes of the former State Highway. In its early stages, 82nd Avenue initially supported only three lanes of traffic, with one lane for vehicles traveling in each direction and a center turn lane. Transportation officials reserved the outer edges of the street for parking, and engineers did not build parking pavement to the same standard as the street’s center. When transportation officials removed parking to add another travel lane in each direction, they did not update the road’s supporting base, leading to premature wear. Crews working on this project will need to remove the outer lanes to their base layer and reengineer it to support the weight of vehicles in motion above it before repaving the whole surface. The results will provide a smoother road surface that should last longer before requiring future repairs.

Construction site featuring a yellow Komatsu excavator working near road repair barriers.
Raimore Construction crews removing the northbound SE 82nd Ave outer lanes for reconstruction

This roadwork connects to a recently completed update on 200 feet of SE Mill Street east of SE 82nd Avenue. That project constructed new sidewalks on SE Mill Street in this area, which previously lacked curbs and a dedicated pedestrian walkway. PBOT added wide sidewalks on both sides of the street, featuring tree wells for future street tree planting, which creates a safer segment for the bike greenway and a safe route to school path that runs along this street. Crews also reconstructed the road surface from the base up to replace the pothole-laden street with a new, smooth surface. However, SE Mill Street east of this site, up to 89th Avenue, still lacks curbs and sidewalks but features mature trees lining the somewhat degraded asphalt road surface.

Freshly repaved street along SE 82nd Avenue, featuring new sidewalks on the left side, parking spaces, and surrounding greenery.
SE Mill Street looking east form SE 82nd Avenue showing new sidewalks roadway

Similar to the work on SE Mill Street, PBOT contractors have added new sidewalk segments along the east side of SE 82nd Avenue from SE Division Street to a mid-block pedestrian crossing. Other sidewalk repairs in the area have improved conditions for people walking or rolling along the street’s edge. This collection of updates on the well-traveled north-south connector is part of the 82nd Avenue Major Maintenance Project —Part of the Building a Better 82nd initiative created to address deferred maintenance issues identified after the jurisdictional transfer of 82nd Avenue from the Oregon Department of Transportation to PBOT on June 1st, 2022.

Drivers should expect delays in this area and follow the crew’s instructions, as people entering and exiting adjacent businesses will require assistance to navigate the construction zone. This roadwork is just one of many PBOT projects underway, all aimed at creating a safer and more stable street. Current projects will extend throughout the year and into 2026. Funding for some of the ongoing work comes from the American Rescue Plan Act, which has a deadline of December 31st, 2026, to complete the funded work.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Disclosure: The author of this article served on the Building a Better 82nd Community Advisory Group