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.

Construction, New Residence

Construction of Three Townhouses on SE 93rd

Work is underway on three connected townhomes along a cul-de-sac section on SE 93rd Avenue. The two-story buildings took the developer over three years to start work, with plans dating back to May 2022. Demolition crews removed the existing 1944-era single-family home at 2421 SE 93rd Avenue in early 2023, and the site sat vacant behind construction fencing for another two years until work resumed this summer.

  • 2421 SE 93rd Ave May 2022
  • 2421 SE 93rd Ave March 2023 after crews razed house leaving only the foundation

Sunstone Homes submitted the original permit applications to construct the three townhouses near SE Division Street and Interstate 205 on a 63-by-75-foot lot. Each new residence offers around 1500 square feet of living space with two full bathrooms and one half-bath for each townhouse. Each home includes an attached single-car garage taking up nearly half the building’s frontage but fitting in with Portland’s rules. Portland’s updated parking and onsite vehicle storage rules restrict excessive attached garages on street-facing walls. It says the length of the garage wall facing the street may be up to 50 percent of the total length of the street-facing building facade. However, if any or all the units in a multiunit development are less than 22 feet wide, the limitation applies to the total length of the street-facing facades.

Onsite parking could be an advantage to selling these homes, according to some area real estate sellers who still see buyers interested in the option. This street also has an abundance of on-street parking as the Interstate 205 Multi-use-path runs along the opposite side of SE 93rd Avenue, and no homes are located east of the street until the other side of the I-205 freeway. This location is also ideal for transit riders as the cul-de-sac turnaround abuts a SE Division Street TriMet FX bus station. Additionally, the MAX light rail Green Line station is south of SE Division Street, a few hundred feet away.

Site plan showing three connected townhomes along SE 93rd Avenue, with dimensions and an adjacent cul-de-sac.
Portland Maps image showing lot and cul-de-sac

As a formally dormant project, this is an indication that builders are willing to spend on housing in this current market. There are dozens of similar projects in the area that are also waiting to break ground, some of them vacant lots like this one on SE 93rd Avenue. This project could be the start of a new construction wave that Portland is trying to cultivate. Especially after City officials temporarily suspended System Development Charges (SDCs) for most new residential projects. SDCs are one-time fees charged to new development and redevelopment that increase demand on public infrastructure. The money collected improves utilities, roads, and parks. That new policy will apply to projects approved from August 15, 2025, to September 30, 2028, or until builders create 5,000 new units of housing. This short-term measure will eliminate a considerable cost for builders, but not necessarily enough to make all paused projects profitable.

People should expect work to continue on the SE 93rd Avenue townhomes through the summer, with crews likely completing the properties later in 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.

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

Food and Drink, History

Possibly Montavilla’s Last Farm

In the days before Montavilla became a popular suburb in the early 1900s, it was largely farmland. Gradually, fruit, vegetables, nuts, and other crops were displaced by houses and commercial buildings. But as late as the 1920s, there were still pockets of arable land in sections of northeastern and southeastern Montavilla. I recently learned about the Newell and Matsen cut-flower farm on NE 87th Avenue that may deserve the distinction of being Montavilla’s last farm.

Three men stand in front of a building after a snowstorm, holding shovels. In the background, greenhouses are visible, and there is a large accumulation of snow around them.
The Newell and Matsen floral nursery after a snowstorm with owners Harry Newell (left) and Hank Matsen (right) and long-term employee Mel Wilkinson (center). Photo courtesy of the Matsen Family Photo Archive

Harry L. Newell (1891-1976) and Hank F. Matsen (1894-1962) established the business in 1922. Hank’s son, Kenneth H. Matsen (1921-2024), continued it until 1973.

I learned about this business from two of Kenneth Matsen’s daughters, Nancy Palomino and Marje Rhine. They suggested that I speak with their mother, 100-year-old Janice Urquhart Matsen, who knew a great deal about it. So, I interviewed Janice, and she generously shared her memories and allowed me to use photos from the extensive family collection. 

Janice Urquhart and Kenneth Matsen in a Newell and Matsen greenhouse shortly before their marriage in 1946.

Janice has a remarkable memory. She has stories to share about her life in Montavilla and about the flower business. She lived in Montavilla for most of her life, and her memories go back to her earliest years. She remembers, for example, entering Vestal School‘s first kindergarten class in 1930. In the 1930s, she walked to school along Glisan Street, and she can tell you stories about nearly every business on her route. She also told me about a Depression-era “shanty town” just west of NE 67th Avenue and how her father gave food to the men who knocked at the back door of their nearby home.

Janice’s memories of the Newell-Matsen flower farm date back to her marriage to Ken Matsen in 1946. At that time, he worked on the farm, and for a time, the newlyweds lived in his parents’ house located on the farm property. Ken worked on the farm until it closed in 1973. So even though Janice did not work in the business—although she lent a hand from time to time—she was in a position to know how it operated.

The business was founded by two young men, Harry Newell and Hank Matsen, just after their service in World War I. The two men had known each other for several years, and Newell married Matsen’s sister Rose in 1920. Newell had been employed in the floral business for several years, but Matsen had established himself as a dentist after the war. Somehow, Newell convinced his new brother-in-law that a flower business was worth trying.

Newell knew there was money to be made in this trade. He had worked for Rahn and Herbert, one of the largest nurseries in Oregon, with greenhouses in Clackamas. The flower trade was growing, according to the 1920 U.S. census. So, Matsen gave up his dental practice and purchased a large plot of land on 87th Avenue, just north of Glisan from his mother Christina Matsen Tranberg (1852-1934).

Historic photograph of a early 20th-century house with two people standing on the porch, surrounded by a fenced yard and landscape.
Christina Matsen Tranberg’s house and property before the Newell-Matsen greenhouses were built. Photo courtesy of the Matsen Family Photo Archive
Construction site of Newell and Matsen glass greenhouses with scattered building materials and trees.
Newell and Matsen glass greenhouses under construction. Photo courtesy of the Matsen Family Photo Archive
A plumbing permit dated September 18, 1922, for the Newell-Matsen greenhouses located at 750 NE 87th Avenue, detailing its construction and plumbing specifications.
This 1922 plumbing permit establishes a beginning date for the Newell-Matsen business. It shows that the dry well and rain drains needed for the greenhouses had been approved on September 30, 1922. Source: Portlandmaps

The 1928 Sanborn map below indicates the location and scale of the Newell and Matsen greenhouses. It was opposite another farm, the Benedict Nursery, which grew shrubs and trees. The Benedict Nursery, by the way, is now the eastern portion of the Multnomah University campus.

  • The 1928 Sanborn map above shows the Newell and Matsen Nursery in the upper right
  • Detail of the 1928 Sanborn map 

The Newell and Matsen nursery sold its flowers in a variety of ways. They supplied local florist shops. They did wholesale business through the Oregon Flower Growers Association warehouse on Grand Avenue. Some flowers were shipped by train to other locales. And they also created funeral sprays.

Ken Matsen continued working in the business after his father died in 1962, and he became the sole proprietor when Newell retired in 1967. He renamed the business Matsen Greenhouses.

The interior of a greenhouse filled with yellow snapdragons and pink carnations.
Newell and Matsen grew yearly crops. In this photo, the crops are carnations (left) and snapdragons (right). Photo courtesy of the Matsen Family Photo Archive

In the early 1970s, Ken faced at least two significant challenges. One was the deadly tornado that swept through Portland and Vancouver on April 5, 1972. Vancouver suffered greater losses — in both lives and property — but the Matsen greenhouses were among Portland’s few damaged properties. When the Portland tornado touched down on his property, it struck the greenhouses, breaking so much glass that it took months to repair, and lifted a tree into the air.

Newspaper clipping titled 'Portland Riverfront Hit Hard By Storm' describing the damage caused by a freak wind in Portland.
The Oregon Journal, April 6, 1972, page 6

Janice told me about another challenge to the Matsen business: the increasing competition from California flower growers, who did not have the expense of oil heating required during Oregon’s colder winters. By 1973, petroleum prices had skyrocketed due to OPEC’s oil embargo against the U.S. Consequently, California growers could ship flowers by rail and undercut Oregon prices. 

Ken Matsen closed the nursery business in 1973, but he stayed in the flower trade, working for flower wholesalers on Swan Island.

An elderly man resting in a wheelbarrow, wearing a blue hat and a blue t-shirt, with a garden in the background.
Kenneth Matsen resting from greenhouse work. Photo courtesy of the Matsen Family Photo Archive

If you want to see a remnant of the Newell and Matsen flower farm, you can find the remodeled 1908 Matsen farmhouse at 750 NE 87th Avenue. Now it’s surrounded by mostly single and multifamily housing. But a bit of the more open, rural land is preserved in Montavilla Park and the Multnomah University campus.

The remodeled Matsen home at 750 NE 87th Avenue, featuring a green-trimmed gabled roof, surrounded by well-maintained landscaping and flower pots.
The remodeled Matsen home at 750 NE 87th Avenue today. Photo by Thomas Tilton

Note:

Some of you may remember when Montavilla still had open spaces other than parks and school playgrounds. Please feel free to share your memories about remnants of Montavilla’s rural past. You can email them to me at history@montavilla.net.

Acknowledgements:

Much of the information in this story was generously supplied by Matsen family members. I want to thank Janice and her daughters for their help. Janice shared her invaluable memories with me in two interviews. Her daughter Marie Matsen sorted through thousands of family photos and selected most of the ones appearing in this article; she also provided additional details about the Newell-Matsen business. Janice’s daughters, Marje Rhine and Nancy Palomino, brought my attention to the Newell and Matsen flower business, setting me on this quest.

by

Patricia Sanders

Correction: An earlier version of this article had Janice Urquhart Matsen’s first name typed at Joyce in several locations and Marje Rhine’s first name spelled as Marjae. The text is now corrected and Montavilla News regrets this error.

Construction, New Business, New Residence

1818 SE 82nd Sober Shelter Construction Starts August

Starting August 4th, demolition crews working with Multnomah County’s Homeless Services Department will begin preparing the site at 1818 SE 82nd Avenue to support a new sober shelter that Do Good Multnomah will operate after construction completes in the 2025-2026 winter season. With the reconstruction of SE Mill Street adjacent to the property complete, and road crews wrapping up repaving on SE 82nd Avenue in this area, contractors will have unobstructed access to the site to install 38 single-occupancy, shed-style shelters with supporting sanitation and cooking facilities.

Street view of the site at 1818 SE 82nd Avenue, featuring a fenced area with construction barrels and traffic signals indicating SE 82nd Avenue.

Multnomah County purchased the former recreational vehicle dealership at 1818 SE 82nd Avenue in December 2022 for $2.015 million. This 34,000-square-foot parcel was the second Montavilla location the County bought that year for temporary shelter services. The other shelter, Oak Street Village at 333 SE 82nd Avenue, opened in February and is currently operating at full capacity. The Joint Office of Homeless Services — now renamed the Homeless Services Department — has held several community meetings, with the most recent meeting in April announcing that Do Good Multnomah would operate the site as a sober shelter. Presenters explained that residents and staff are subject to drug testing, and policy strictly prohibits the possession of non-prescribed intoxicants on the property.

Selecting a sober format meets a specific need for people transitioning into stable housing who are in recovery from substance use disorder, and it better matches community desires for the site, which is located near two schools. The project designers will set back the new seven-foot-high chain-link fence on SE Mill Street to allow for more sidewalk-adjacent plantings, providing a buffer space and allowing for greater resident privacy beyond the plastic fence inserts that will obscure sightlines from the street.

A proposed site design for a new sober shelter, showing the layout of sleeping units, community space, staff areas, and essential facilities like showers and laundry. The design includes labeled areas for vehicle entry, landscaping, and fencing.
Feb 2025 Design – courtesy JOHS

Workers will remove sections of the asphalt pavement in the parking lot to create green spaces and a pet relief area for residents. Portable units that will house showers, bathrooms, a kitchenette space, and a laundry facility for residents are placed along the SE 82nd Avenue frontage to create a sound barrier from the busy street. On-site parking is available for staff and service providers only. This site will not provide space for residents to park personal vehicles. Some neighbors questioned the original placement of the trash enclosure on the property, and updated designs relocated it away from the fence line, but still made it accessible for trash haulers.

As work on the site progresses this summer, Homeless Services Department staff will collaborate with community partners on a Good Neighbor Agreement, a process anticipated to take two months. Demolition work will take place through August with a planned completion date around the 22nd of that month. Electricians, plumbers, and other tradespeople will follow to install the below-ground routed services that will support the installation of the portable sleeping pods and the six support buildings.

Article and phots by

Jacob Loeb

Disclosure: The Author of this article servers on the board the 82nd Avenue Business Association which will work with Multnomah County on a Good Neighbor Agreement for the site.

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

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

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Community, Event, Food and Drink

East Portland Sunday Parkway July 27

East Portland’s 2025 Sunday Parkways falls on the same day as the Montavilla Street Fair, July 27th. However, their proximity to each other could allow for an outdoor excursion of nearly car-free biking, followed by a stroll down a car-free section of SE Stark Street. The East Portland Parkway route covers a 4.5-mile path closed to most vehicle traffic, with volunteers helping to direct people rolling and walking through the streets from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participants can start at any section of the path and travel between Gateway Discovery Park, Ventura Park, Lincoln Park, and Parklane Park. Each of the four park stops features local entertainment, community booths, and vendors.

Those looking to participate should connect with the planned route at a convenient point and follow the path as directed by the organizers. The route is as follows: “From Gateway Discovery Park, traveling along NE Wasco Street to 107th Avenue, 107th Avenue to Oregon Street, Oregon Street to 108th Avenue, 108th Avenue to Everett Street, Everett Street to 113th Avenue, 113th Avenue as it passes Ventura Park to SE Yamhill Street, Yamhill Street to 117th Street, 117th Street to Main Street, Main Street until it crosses 122nd Avenue, jogging slightly to continue on Salmon Street until 130th Avenue, 130th Avenue to Mill Street, then along Mill Street until it hits Lincoln Park. Traveling past Lincoln Park along Mill Street, North on 139th Street, and on SE Main Street traveling east until reaching Parklane Park.”

Map of East Portland's 4.5-mile Sunday Parkways route, indicating parks, streets, and event details.
Map courtesy of the City of Portland Sunday Parkways

Participants will need to watch for automotive traffic while crossing certain intersections where cars are permitted to pass through. These include NE Glisan Street, E Burnside Street, SE Stark Street, SE 122nd Avenue, SE Madison Street, SE 135th Avenue, 140th Avenue, and 148th Avenue. People can text “East” to 888-520-0526 for event updates.

Sunday Parkway events are family-friendly and a slow-paced way to explore the neighborhood while visiting Portland Parks. A large number of participants makes it safer for road users, but congestion and navigating novice riders require patience with a relaxed attitude. Plan to travel the whole route, but participants do not need to feel compelled to reach all the destinations; it is about fun, not mileage.

Article and photo 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.

Montavilla

Seasonal Portland Addition of Groundwater to Supply

On Tuesday, July 22nd, the Portland Water Bureau announced it had begun adding groundwater from the Columbia South Shore Well Field to the City’s Bull Run-sourced drinking water. Officials are making this change primarily due to prolonged dry conditions, warm temperatures, and the limited precipitation forecast this season. The Bureau explains that blending Portland’s two sources extends the water supply through the summer season, ensuring water users maintain access to high-quality drinking water until rainwater replenishes the Bull Run watershed.

Aerial view of the Columbia South Shore Well Field, featuring solar panels on a grassy area, with a water treatment plant in the foreground and a river in the background.
Columbia South Shore Well Field. Courtesy Portland Water Bureau

This announcement marks the earliest summertime supply augmenting activation of the city’s well water system since 2019. In recent years, this has occurred as early as August, due to dry springs and early summer weather reducing the supply at Bull Run. The October 2023 to April 2024 water year, which had near-average rainfall and a suitable mountain snowpack, kept Portland’s watershed supplied for a significant portion of the dry season lasting into October. However, warmer weather patterns and increased water usage have made well-water sources integral to the regional water supply. The Water Bureau’s “Seasonal Water Supply Augmentation and Contingency Plan” guides the Bureau’s annual addition of groundwater to slow the drawdown of the Bull Run reservoir. This augmentation preserves the watershed supply throughout the dry season and supports year-round water usage for fish habitat, which also relies on water flow from Bull Run.

Graph showing usable storage in the Bull Run Reservoirs over various months with data from 2015, average daily storage (1976-2024), and predictions for 2024 and 2025.
Chart showing Bull Run reservoir storage over a year’s time with an average line and historical values including 2015 a particularly supply-stressing year. Courtesy Portland Water Bureau

Columbia South Shore Well Fields tap into deep aquifers filled with rainwater throughout the year. Portland Water Bureau assures residents that Portland’s groundwater supply meets or surpasses all federal and state drinking water regulations. However, the Bureau’s policy is to notify the public when activating groundwater sources so sensitive water users can take precautions. It can take up to two weeks before residents receive blended water. After operators revert to entirely Bull Run-sourced water, customers can expect it to take another two weeks for the lines to clear of groundwater.

Sensitive water users can sign up at the Portland Water Bureau’s website to receive notifications regarding changes to the water system. Customers with questions should call the Water Line at 503-823-7525 and check this article for updates when Portland’s water system returns to 100 percent Bull Run watershed-sourced water.

Update October 22, 2025: The Portland Water Bureau announced it returned its water supply source to 100% Bull Run-sourced drinking water. Customers can expect another two weeks for supply lines to completely clear of the blended Bull Run and groundwater mixture.

By

Jacob Loeb

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