Tag: I84

Infrastructure, Transportation

Westbound I-84 16 Hour Sunday Closure

On the start of Sunday, June 8th, drivers will need to detour around a Westbound Interstate 84 closure between Interstate 205 and Interstate 5. The closure will last 16 hours, from midnight to 4 p.m., allowing crews safe access from the Banfield Expressway to perform maintenance and graffiti removal. Eastbound I-84 users are not impacted by this work that coincides with MAX line closures related to NE 82nd Ave station work.

Crews working with TriMet will de-energize the I-84 adjacent light rail system so workers can safely construct a metal-scaffolding-style staircase west of NE 82nd Avenue leading to a new temporary MAX platform. With the tracks clear of commuter vehicles and the 750 Volt catenary wire made safe, crews with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT), TriMet, and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) have an opportunity to conduct maintenance around and over the tracks. Closing the adjacent westbound freeway lanes allows for maintenance-vehicle access and an expanded work site as crews clean, paint, and repair critical transportation infrastructure.

View of a highway overpass with a construction area for a new MAX platform underneath. Graffiti is visible on the concrete wall, and construction materials are stacked nearby. Traffic signs for East 84 and 82nd Ave can be seen above.
Space where crews will construct temporary stairs

PBOT is responsible for eight overpasses spanning I-84, and their support structures stand close to railroad and light rail tracks. Work of any length of time in this area is made difficult by trains and motorists passing, so closures are necessary for many repairs. Similarly, ODOT will use this opportunity to address maintenance hampered by the active transportation corridor, including work on lighting systems and sign repairs. ODOT crews will straighten lane barriers and replace glare shielding placed on top of separators to lessen the impact of oncoming headlights on drivers.

ODOT last closed I-84 on July 14th, 2024. This work will remove a significant amount of graffiti and accumulated roadside trash. Westbound drivers should plan for detours, and MAX riders should look for shuttle-bus information during the closures. Residents in adjacent neighborhoods can expect some level of increased traffic on their streets as drivers find alternative routes.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Construction, Infrastructure

NW Natural Completes Area Pipe Inspection

Crews with NW Natural recently removed two gas line inspection apparatuses temporarily installed above ground on both sides of Interstate 84, west of the NE 74th Avenue overpass. Federal regulations require natural gas suppliers to inspect their delivery pipes every seven years, promoting safety and efficient operation. The utility’s Pipeline Integrity Management Team inspected over eight miles of gas lines during this project, which completed work on Friday, May 9th.

A fenced area showing a large yellow gas line inspection apparatus on a wooden platform, with traffic cones in the foreground and residential buildings in the background.
Pig launcher installed on NE Jonesmore St west of NE 74th Ave

Although regulations allow gas line inspections through several methods, NW Natural prefers the uses of an internal sensor device known as a Pipeline Inspection Gauge (pig) – the term pig may be a backronym as some sources atribute its name’s origin to a squealing noise produced by early versions of the tool while traveling through a pipe. A pig is a device that operators can insert into a gas line that is nearly the same diameter as the pipe. Once in the pressurized gas pipe, it travels with the fuel flow at around five miles per hour, measuring the thickness of the pipe wall along its path. “As the pig moves through the system, it’s generating a 3D picture from inside the pipeline that can show wall loss or corrosion, dents, contact with other objects underground, or other various anomalies,” explained NW Natural representative Dave Santen.

Temporary gas line inspection apparatuses surrounded by a fence, with construction cones, along Interstate 84.
Pig launcher installed on NE Broadway west of NE 74th Ave

Operators insert the in-pipe sensor equipment into natural gas lines via access points called pig launchers. Crews installed two temporary access points above ground on either side of I-84 west of SE 74th Avenue to bypass the segment of gas pipe that runs under the I-84 overpass in this area. Current NW Natural engineering plans do not use pigs to scan the suspended line over the freeway. Instead, they use other approved inspection methods. Consequently, workers needed to excavate around the below-ground gas lines at NE Jonesmore Street and NE Broadway to attach the pig launcher and receiver so the sensor equipment could continue its path manually, bypassing the overpass attached line.

Excavation site showing a long yellow gas pipe inserted into the ground with construction barriers and fencing along Interstate 84.
Pig launcher installed on NE Broadway west of NE 74th Ave

NW Natural representatives said the inspection went well, and crews have removed the above-ground equipment. Road workers will soon repair the pavement removed during this project. Future inspections of the gas line may be able to send the pig across the overpass. However, this once every seven-year process works well and does not disrupt the natural gas supply for customers who depend on it for heating and cooking.

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

I84 Weekend Cleanup Closure

This weekend, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) will close a five-mile section of Interstate 84 between Interstate 5 and Interstate 205. The 13-hour overnight closure will last from 11 p.m. Saturday, July 13th to noon Sunday, July 14th. Vehicle traffic in both directions must detour around the freeway for east-west travel, potentially adding more cars onto Montavilla Streets. Union Pacific Railroad and TriMet will also suspend most rail usage through Sullivan’s Gulch, clearing the way for crews to remove graffiti and accumulated trash safely.

Around 100 workers from six agencies—ODOT, Union Pacific Railroad, TriMet, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT), Metro, and Multnomah County—will address graffiti and trash in this hard-hit section that is difficult to clean. The number of overlapping jurisdictions through Sullivan’s Gulch complicates most regular maintenance activities. Consequentially, cleanup efforts are infrequent, attracting people camping who are looking to avoid sweeps and taggers who prize long-lasting displays of their mark.

Graphic courtesy ODOT

All on-ramps leading to I-84 will be closed during this work. ODOT crews will also prohibit northbound I-5 travel over the Marquam Bridge, with traffic diverted onto northbound Interstate 405. That overnight closure will allow workers to carry out bridge maintenance. The Morrison Bridge and North Weidler Street ramps to northbound I-5 will remain open. PBOT crews plan to clean their I-84 corridor crossing during this time. Crews will work west to east, starting with the Congressman Earl Blumenauer Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge. Cleaning work will then address blight on the NE 12th Avenue, NE 21st Avenue, and NE 28th Avenue crossings. Work could potentially clean bridges farther east into the Montavilla area if time allows. PBOT crews will close the bridges to traffic one at a time as they deploy large trucks and specialized equipment. This phased work will further disrupt traffic overnight and into the morning. Bus routes will not have to detour around closures, but operators will drive slowly through the work sites, adding to travel times.

NE Glisan Street traffic jamb on June 14th during crash closure of I-84

Drivers should check TripCheck.com for real-time traffic information during the closure, with ODOT suggesting that motorists use I-205 or local roads to detour around the work site. TriMet shuttle buses will move riders around Sunday’s partial-day closure between the Gateway/NE 99th Ave Transit Center and NE 7th Ave stations. Transit workers may need additional time to resume MAX service once I-84 has reopened, as crews will need to reenergize the system.

Although the closure focuses on cleaning, ODOT crews may perform electrical work and sign maintenance. Workers could also patch pavement, clean drains, and make other repairs that require a full closure. Funding provided by the Oregon Legislature during their 2024 session helped increase ODOT efforts to remove graffiti, clean up trash, and restore areas damaged along the side of the road. This project is part of the multiagency efforts to restore Portland to a cleaner and safer condition. Officials timed this closure to have the most negligible impact on travel. However, people should anticipate some delays and use caution when driving near road crews.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

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Construction, Infrastructure

Weekend I-84 Closure at I-205

This weekend, crews working on the TriMet A Better Red project will close Interstate 84 in both directions near the Interstate 205 junction. Starting at 10 p.m. on Friday, October 6th, drivers must use an alternate route to bypass the freeway closure. The disruption will last through the weekend, reopening at 5 a.m. on Monday, October 9th.

The closure allows TriMet crews working over the freeway to remove protective wood decking added to a new rail bridge during previous concrete pours. As construction nears completion on the MAX Red Line rail expansion project, these temporary platforms are no longer needed. TriMet representative Tyler Graf explained that crews will work near the roadway and perform work above it, causing a potential safety hazard. Out of concern for drivers and workers, it is necessary to close the freeway.

TriMet’s A Better Red project impacts multiple locations in the Portland Metro area, extending the MAX Red Line west to serve ten more stations and improving schedule reliability by adding tracks where the system currently uses shared single tracks for bidirectional travel. This portion of the project completes a second freeway overpass that will create a dedicated southbound light-rail path. Until this point, light-rail traffic on this segment needed to wait for a single track to clear of opposing trains before proceeding, causing systemwide delays. This new bridge also features a multi-use path that leads to the south entrance of the Gateway Green bike park.

Portland Maps image with MV News illustrations. Red Line shows I-84 East Bypass. Blue Line shows I-84 West Bypass.

During the closure, Westbound I-84 drivers should use the I-205 South exit and then merge back onto I-84 West. Eastbound I-84 Drivers can use the I-205 South / NE Glisan Street exit and then travel east on NE Glisan to NE 122nd Avenue. Turn left onto northbound 122nd and then use the I-84 East onramp. Drivers should plan for delays, and TriMet encourages motorists to use TripCheck.com for real-time traffic information.

Some decking already removed showing the bridge’s finished edge

This weekend’s disruption should be the last I-84 closure related to TriMet’s A Better Red project. Several months of additional work are needed before the new rail infrastructure is ready for use. However, this marks a significant milestone in the project and signals that the Max Red Line will likely reopen on schedule. Since June 18th, TriMet has suspended MAX Red Line service from the Gateway Transit Center to the Portland International Airport (PDX). Riders have relied on shuttle buses to fill in the gap in service. However, that segment should reopen on October 21st, 2023. 

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Christopher T. Hill, PC

Infrastructure

Regional Tolling Survey Asks for Input

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is conducting a survey of interstate drivers and people living around the freeway to help shape planned regional tolling. People can contribute their perspectives on three pricing models through midnight on October 9th, when the survey closes. The input received will assist planners as they refine the Regional Mobility Pricing Project, and the results will appear in the Environmental Assessment report currently in development.

ODOT is committed to implementing tolling as part of a long-term strategy to fund transportation improvements and improve traffic flow during peak usage times. There are two tolling projects under consideration. The I-205 Toll Project focuses on tolling at the Abernethy Bridge and is not part of this survey. Instead, questions focus on the Regional Mobility Pricing Project that proposes tolling portions of Interstate 5 and Interstate 205 in the Portland metro region. This plan would cost drivers using all lanes on the freeway with an all-electronic system during daytime hours of 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The three proposed tolling options aim to reduce bumper-to-bumper traffic, generate revenue, and meet regional climate goals. Designers are considering charging higher tolls during rush hours and in areas with more traffic. They will also work to create a discount for low-income travelers and provide a predictable schedule for road costs so people can plan trips around the varying rates. ODOT will design toll amounts and times to keep traffic moving at an average speed of 40 to 55 mph.

The first option presented in the survey uses a base toll amount charged to drivers when entering the freeway, and then additional fees are added when a driver passes through high-traffic toll points. The other two options use multiple tolling zones, with ODOT collecting a fee for each segment traveled through. Within the survey, ODOT acknowledges community concern regarding the impacts of drivers using streets near I-5 and I-205 to avoid paying a toll. They are considering techniques to mitigate tolling’s potential effects on neighborhoods. A question about prioritizing that work is on the survey.

Montavilla is bordered by I-205, and 82nd Avenue already shoulders some burden caused by freeway congestion. Consequently, neighborhood residents can provide ODOT valuable insight into what methods would work best for tolling and what priorities should factor into the design. The survey is available in other languages, and accessibility assistance is available.

Article and phots by

Jacob Loeb

Illustrated maps courtesy ODOT

Haga clic aquí para participar en la encuesta en español. 
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Для участия в опросе на русском языке нажмите здесь.  
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For Americans with Disabilities Act or Civil Rights Title VI accommodations, translation/interpretation services, or more information call 503-731-4128, TTY (800) 735-2900 or Oregon Relay Service 7-1-1. 

Construction, Infrastructure

I84 Weekend Detour Aug 11-14

Starting tonight, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) will close all lanes of westbound Interstate 84 near I-205. This weekend closure begins on Friday, August 11th, with road crews reopening the freeway to traffic by 5 a.m. Monday, August 14th. Drivers using I-84 West should follow the short detour to I-205 South and immediately merge back onto I-84 West. ODOT crews will block two on-ramps leading to the closed roadway during repair work, with one additional on-ramp at NE 102nd Avenue open only during the daytime hours.

This freeway closure was initially scheduled for July but postponed due to material availability issues. Over the weekend, crews will continue a resurfacing project involving the installation of a new concrete surface on the I84 West bridge. Crews worked on the eastbound section of I84 in June. Drivers should anticipate delays as people navigate the detour and work around the on-ramp closures.

By

Jacob Loeb

  • I-84 westbound on-ramp closed at NE 102nd Avenue (closed at night only).
  • I-84 westbound on-ramp closed at NE 181st Avenue.
  • I-84 westbound on-ramp closed at Fairview Parkway.
Construction, Event, Infrastructure

Jan 6th I-84 Closure at I-205

This weekend, Interstate 84 will close in both directions near the Interstate 205 interchange. Crews working on TriMet’s Better Red project will pour concrete for a new rail bridge that spans all lanes of I-84. Drivers will need to use detours around construction work from 10 p.m. Friday, January 6th, until 4 a.m. the following Sunday, January 8th. This project is weather dependent and subject to last-minute schedule changes.

The 30-hour freeway closure is necessary as cement masons work overhead on the new MAX light rail bridge. Crews will work all hours, creating the concrete surface for a single rail line and multi-use path. TriMet originally constructed this section of the MAX Red Line with a single track requiring the segment to clear before trains could travel in opposite directions. This upgrade will allow bi-directional transit to and from the Portland International Airport. Additionally, visitors to the Gateway Green bike park will have a new entrance closer to parking and transit.

Travelers intending to use I-84 should plan an alternate route and expect delays. The I-84 ramps to I-205 will remain open, and people driving west on I-84 are advised to take southbound I-205 as an alternate route. Drivers can merge back onto I-84 past the Gateway area. However, detours are likely to cause congestion. Motorists should plan for additional travel time. For more information, visit the project website or call 503-238-7433.

Yellow line indicating Jan 6th-8th closure of I-84. Image courtesy of TriMet

By

Jacob Loeb

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Construction, Event, Infrastructure

I84 Offramp Closed for Three Days Next Week

Next week, Interstate 84’s eastbound Exit 7 will close as TriMet crews pour concrete on a new light rail bridge over the Freeway. The Halsey St/NE 99th Ave offramp provides direct access to Gateway Shopping Center, Gateway Transit Center, and two medical offices. The November 15th to 17th closure will also prevent quick access to NE Halsey street from I-84. Drivers should take Exit 6 towards Interstate 205 South and use the immediate Glisan Street exit. Then they must take NE Glisan Street east, using NE 99th or 102nd Avenues to drive north to their destination.


Montavilla News illustrations on a Portland Maps image

This midweek construction work supports the A Better Red project currently underway next to I-205. The closures of this I-84 offramp will facilitate the construction of the new MAX light rail track parallel to an existing single-track segment of the Red Line. During the shutdown, crews will continue building a new light-rail bridge over the Freeway, connecting the northern section of Portland’s Gateway Green Park and the Gateway Transit Center. Once completed, the bridge’s tracks will allow simultaneous bidirectional MAX traffic through the Gateway area, helping to alleviate bottlenecks and improve reliability across the MAX system. Crews will also install a new multi-use path to the mountain bike park alongside the new tracks. This added access route will make the recreation area more accessible to a variety of users and increase amenities in the space.

TriMet advises that this work is weather dependent and could be postponed or extended. Check trimet.org/betterred/construction for updates to the schedule or to read more information about the project.

Rendering of the new Red Line bridge crossing I-84. Image courtesy TriMet

By

Jacob Loeb

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Business Closing, History, Property Sale

Massive I84 and 82nd Ave Property for Sale

An acre of Commercial Mixed Use real estate at 1411 NE 82nd Avenue recently became available on Montavilla’s northern edge. The lot, adjacent to Interstate 84, is the current home to Eastern Cathay restaurant and is the former birthplace of the Elmer’s Pancake House franchise.

The listing agent, Adrian Chu of Specialty Real Estate Group, is positioning this property as a “developer’s dream.” The parcel sits at the intersection of a freeway, 82nd Avenue, NE Halsey, and the TriMet MAX Light Rail system. The site is underdeveloped, with only a single 4,500-square-foot restaurant building at its center, surrounded by more parking than guests could fill. If redeveloped, residents could quickly travel to any destination from this location with numerous transportation options, and retail on the ground floor would have access to hundreds of daily commuters.

Courtesy Danna brothers and Midcounty Memo

This site was born out of the I-84 expansion, having been leveled during the widening of Sullivan’s Gulch. The 1950’s era civil engineering project required the demolition of the McCarthy & Danna Food Center that had formerly occupied the land over the freeway where NE Halsey connected to NE 82nd Avenue. The store’s operator, Salvatore “Sam” G. Danna, intended to rebuild the grocery store on the remaining property not taken by the freeway project. However, a restaurateur suggested a different use for the vacant lot. In 1960, Danna constructed the first Elmer’s Colonial House of Pancakes restaurant on this site for Walt and Dorothy Elmer. Opening in 1961, this breakfast-focused restaurant began what would become a Northwest business empire spanning multiple states. However, this location closed after the customer base shifted to other areas.

Sanborn Map 1924 showing McCarthy & Danna Food Center location

In October 2008, Rong Liang Mei bought the property and restaurant. Having already started two successful restaurants, the new owner quickly converted this location to Eastern Cathay. The business is available as part of a sale or will shut down after the deal finalizes. At $3 million, this property may stay on the market for a while. However, its size and location make it a tempting acquisition for a developer or government buyer.

By

Jacob Loeb

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Construction, Infrastructure

I84 Closure at I205 Starting Sept. 23rd

TriMet construction crews will close a 1.5-mile stretch of Interstate 84 in both directions near the Interstate 205 interchange this weekend. The closure will begin on Friday night at 10 p.m. and reopen at 4 a.m. Monday morning. Additionally, barricades will block access to the NE 102nd Avenue on-ramp to I-84 west and the I-84 east Exit 7 Halsey/99nd Avenue off-ramp. This work supports the A Better Red project currently underway near the Gateway Transit Center.

The closures of I-84 will facilitate the construction of the new MAX light rail track parallel to an existing single-track segment of the Red Line. During the weekend shutdown, crews will continue building a new light rail bridge over the freeway, connecting the northern section of Portland’s Gateway Green Park and the Gateway Transit Center. Once completed, the bridge’s tracks will allow simultaneous bidirectional MAX traffic through the Gateway area, helping to alleviate bottlenecks and improve reliability across the MAX system. Crews will also install a new multi-use path to the mountain bike park alongside the new tracks. This added access route will make the recreation area more accessible to a variety of users and increase amenities in the space.

Rendering of the new Red Line bridge crossing I-84. Image courtesy TriMet

Drivers expecting to use I-84 should plan an alternate route between the evening of September 23rd and the morning of September 26th. Commuters should also anticipate more congestion than usual on I-205 as people detour around the closure. Buses will run regular service while construction takes place and offer an effective alternate travel method during the closure. While the traffic disruption will not affect transit service, some trips may take longer due to other work on the MAX Blue Line in Gresham. Additional information is available on the TriMet website.

By

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News has a Patreon account. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to please consider becoming a paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.