Tag: NE Halsey

NE Halsey I-84 Onramp Detoured Aug 11-12

On Tuesday, August 11, and Wednesday, August 12, road crews will close the Interstate-84 Entrance and Eastbound traffic on the overpass above NE 82nd Ave and I-84 for microsurfacing work. Contractors working for the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) will apply a fast‑curing asphalt treatment to the road surface, filling minor ruts and improving the pavement’s condition. During the application process, motorists will need to use temporary detours.

Map diagram showing the intersection and surrounding streets of NE Halsey St, including NE 60th Ave and NE Hoyt St, with red arrows indicating road directions and blue arrows representing turns.
Portland Maps image with MV News notation of detour routes. Red for I-84 Westbound and blue for eastbound Halsey

PBOT recommends eastbound drivers on NE Halsey use NE 81st Avenue at the Halsey Street roundabout, then turn onto NE Wasco Street. Next, people can use northbound NE 82nd Avenue to then turn onto NE Jonesmore Street, which reconnects with NE Halsey. Travelers intending to use I‑84 westbound should continue west on NE Halsey, turning south onto NE 60th Avenue, then take a right at NE Glisan Street to access the I‑84 westbound on‑ramp at NE 59th Avenue. Contractors will keep the I‑84 on‑ramp open during peak travel hours, but drivers should be prepared to use the detour if directed to by the onsite crew or signage.

View of a street with a bright green bike lane, traffic cones line the edge, and a construction sign indicating a temporary road condition.
New two‑way protected bike infrastructure on NE Halsey St

The two-day project work is just one phase of the overpass updates needed to complete this leg of improvements. Future installation of protective fencing over the bridge, striping of a new two-way bike facility over the bridge, and vertical separation of the two-way bike lane are tentatively anticipated in October 2026. That work will also require temporary lane closures. This activity is part of the NE Halsey Street (80th to 92nd Avenues) – Safety and Access to Transit Project, which aims to improve safety for those traveling outside of cars along this busy High Crash street. The new two‑way protected bike infrastructure on NE Halsey provides a continuous connection from the new mini-roundabout at NE 81st Avenue to NE 92nd Avenue. This upgrade links cyclists directly to existing bike infrastructure and creates new sidewalks for people walking to the NE 82nd Avenue MAX station from the business corridor and nearby residential neighborhoods.

Work schedules are subject to change. PBOT will update reader boards positioned along NE Halsey Street and the project website with the latest schedule information.

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NE Halsey Night Work Adding Color to New Two-way Bike Lane

Contractors working with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) began intermittent night painting on NE Halsey Street between NE Jonesmore Street and NE 92nd Avenue the week of July 13th. Crews will use a blowtorch to adhere the green and white bike lane markings needed to activate the new raised concrete protected cycling path. PBOT says drivers should not encounter changes to travel patterns or restricted driveway access during the work, and that the work will not extend through the entire night.

Recently applied green and white bike lane markings on the south side of NE Halsey St

This activity is part of the NE Halsey Street (80th to 92nd Avenues) – Safety and Access to Transit Project, which aims to improve safety for those traveling outside of cars along this busy High Crash street. Work follows the recent eastbound nighttime closure of NE Halsey Street over Interstate 84 and NE 82nd Avenue on July 8th and 9th. This week’s work will involve painting the two-way bicycle lanes on the south side of NE Halsey. Some crew activities will create noise; however, PBOT explained in its work notice that the night schedule is necessary due to daytime heat, which can warm the asphalt to a point where the paint cannot properly adhere.

The new two‑way protected bike infrastructure on NE Halsey provides a continuous connection from the new mini-roundabout at NE 81st Avenue to NE 92nd Avenue. This upgrade links cyclists directly to existing bike infrastructure and creates new sidewalks for people walking to the NE 82nd Avenue MAX station from the business corridor and nearby residential neighborhoods.

Completed new sidewalk west of 92nd Ave on the north side of NE Halsey St

People can expect this round of overnight work to conclude on July 17th. Pedestrians and cyclists traveling through the area have access to much of the new infrastructure, even as crews install markings to help drivers identify potential conflict points with other street users. Until this project is completed later this year, travelers should use heightened caution on this section of NE Halsey Street, looking for collision points and obeying construction signs or barricades.

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NE Halsey Reopens to Bidirectional Traffic at New Mini-roundabout

In the latter half of June, road crews reopened NE Halsey Street to bidirectional automotive traffic after months of work creating a new mini-roundabout near Interstate 84 and NE 82nd Avenue. Additionally, drivers regained full use of NE 80th and NE 81st avenues at the worksite intersections. Starting on February 16th, westbound motorists on NE Halsey Street were prevented from fully crossing the I-84 overpass as cement masons created the second half of a new mini-roundabout and other contractors built additional street improvements.

Curved road with construction barriers and traffic signs indicating yield, no trucks, and bicycle lane ahead, alongside a modern building.
NE Halsey mini-roundabout approach from NE 81st Avenue.

As this work nears completion, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) recently scaled back plans for the NE Halsey Street Safety and Access to Transit Project, postponing a planned intersection improvement at NE 69th Avenue and removing a 150-foot section of new sidewalk and street trees from the project’s scope. PBOT says the $380,000 in cost savings is necessary to meet reduced funding for this project while still maintaining core improvement goals of filling gaps in walking and biking connections on NE Halsey Street from NE 80th to NE 92nd avenues.

Map showing the layout of a roundabout at NE Halsey Street and NE 80th Street, with an off-ramp from I-84 East and the surrounding roadways.
Rendering of NE Halsey roundabout post 2026 update to remove sidewalk section, courtesy PBOT

The newly renamed NE Halsey Street (80th to 92nd Avenues) – Safety and Access to Transit Project contains many safety improvements for people walking and biking through the area. Future work will create a dedicated bidirectional cycle path from the mini-roundabout to 92nd Avenue through a challenging section of the City’s street grid carved up by freeway construction decades ago. Work on this project could help reconnect communities cut off by car-focused street infrastructure, while reducing injuries on an identified High Crash street.

Drivers and other street users should use caution around this new infrastructure, as the adjusted traffic pattern could confuse people unfamiliar with the change. The raised concrete center circle is designed with sloped edges so that long vehicles, such as first-responder trucks or buses, can drive over it, treating it as a speed bump when necessary. Look for continued road work east of the mini-roundabout as contractor Interlaken and its subcontractors work along the length of the NE Halsey job site.

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Scaled Back NE Halsey Safety Project

The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) recently scaled back plans for the NE Halsey Street Safety and Access to Transit Project, postponing a planned intersection improvement at NE 69th Avenue and removing a 150-foot section of new sidewalk and street trees from the project’s scope. PBOT says the $380,000 in cost savings is necessary to meet reduced funding for this project while still maintaining core improvement goals of filling gaps in walking and biking connections on NE Halsey Street from NE 80th to NE 92nd Avenues.

In April, PBOT updated the “NE Halsey Street (68th to 92nd Avenues) – Safety and Access to Transit Project” website to redirect to the newly renamed “NE Halsey Street (80th to 92nd Avenues) – Safety and Access to Transit Project.” The removed western portion of the project cut a protected high-visibility crosswalk on NE Halsey Street at NE 69th Avenue and removed traffic flow improvements where Interstate 84 off-ramp traffic merges with NE 68th and NE 69th Avenues before joining a slip lane leading onto eastbound NE Halsey Street. This change pushes the start of bike lane infrastructure west of NE 70th Avenue and retains an intersection that some local residents have complained about for years. In 2020 outreach, it was identified as a conflict-heavy junction. In August 2025, PBOT representatives said the design would change, noting the 2020 rendering was outdated and no longer reflected current designs. Work on this portion of the project never broke ground.

An illustrated layout of a road intersection featuring cars, bicycles, and pedestrians, along with bike lanes and green space.
Outdated PBOT rendering of the NE Halsey Street at NE 69th Avenue improvments

PBOT spokesperson Dylan Rivera explained that the NE 69th Avenue segment is separated from the other project elements by several blocks, and a staff review determined that it was the only major element that planners could cut without compromising the overall safety designs of the other elements. He notes that street designers still consider this intersection a priority for future implementation. “The intersection design is fully complete. It’s a shovel-ready project,” remarked Rivera. “We believe it’s an important improvement, and we are actively pursuing funding to build it as originally planned. While the work will be delayed, it should not be considered canceled.”

A roundabout with orange traffic cones, marked with a sign indicating the location of a removed sidewalk from the project. Surrounding greenery and utility poles are visible.

The other project reduction is south of the new NE 81st and Halsey roundabout. This pedestrian connector would have created about 150 feet of sidewalk and street trees on the north side of NE 81st Avenue, where it curves towards NE Halsey Street. Pedestrians can still walk on the existing sidewalk across the street. The PBOT representative explained that the unbuilt section of the sidewalk would not have completely filled the sidewalk gap, leaving a 200-foot section where people would have to use the roadway or cross the street. However, the sidewalk segment would have connected to a shortcut path that leads to the 82nd Avenue Bus and MAX station. That path is currently closed due to safety concerns following the adjacent property owner’s fencing of their parking lot. It could reopen to the public at some point, and a sidewalk connection on NE 81st Avenue would be helpful, according to some transit users in the area.

Map illustration showing a roundabout at the intersection of NE Halsey Street, NE 80th Street, and NE 81st Street, near the I-84 eastbound off-ramp, with labeled roadways.
Rendering of NE Halsey roundabout pre 2026 update to remove sidewalk section, courtesy PBOT
Map showing the layout of a roundabout at NE Halsey Street and NE 80th Street, with an off-ramp from I-84 East and the surrounding roadways.
Rendering of NE Halsey roundabout post 2026 update to remove sidewalk section, courtesy PBOT

PBOT says the cost savings implemented also shorten the project timeline by one month. Crews are nearing completion of the mini roundabout, which has taken months to construct. In December 2025, contractors began work on NE Halsey Street at NE 80th and NE 81st Avenues. At first, NE Halsey remained open to east-west through traffic as crews installed underground stormwater management pipes connecting to relocated catch basins as part of this street reconfiguration. The project then progressed to sidewalks and curbs on the south side of the intersection, with half the roundabout completed in early February. Starting February 16th, westbound motorists on NE Halsey Street began using a detour to NE 82nd Avenue during construction on the northern half of the new mini-roundabout. Crews completed paving in May, with the roadway still closed to vehicles at the time of publication.

A newly constructed roundabout with traffic cones and construction barriers, surrounded by a blue sky with a few clouds.

The contractor working with PBOT on this project, Interlaken, and their subcontractors work the length of the NE Halsey job site. Rivera noted that observed inactivity at the roundabout was expected, as they manage resources across the whole project, and that Interlaken remains on track to finish work this summer. Pacific Power still needs to energize new power poles, and contractor Prairie Electric will install streetlights. Cement masons with Nu Wave Concrete have additional pavement work to complete around the intersection. PBOT expects the westbound Halsey closure to remain in place through the end of May to maintain crew safety working on the north side of the intersection.

A street view showing an intersection with a stop sign, power lines overhead, a Public Storage sign in the background, and a Powerball lottery billboard indicating a jackpot amount.
I-84 off-ramp slip lane onto NE Halsey St at 68th Ave

PBOT has completed a new design for the postponed intersection improvements, which they anticipate will make it safer for people biking and walking to travel through the area where Interstate 84 eastbound travelers exit the highway and enter NE Halsey Street. Information about that work will likely become available when additional funding is secured by the transportation bureau.


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Two-month Westbound NE Halsey Detour at I-84

Starting Monday, February 16th, westbound motorists on NE Halsey Street need to take a detour to NE 82nd Avenue during the next two months of construction on a new mini-roundabout. Eastbound travelers should not experience any significant disruption, but northbound users of NE 80th and NE 81st Avenues will continue to experience local-access restrictions from NE Clackamas Street to NE Halsey Street.

Crews recently completed half of a new mini-roundabout along NE Halsey Street as contractors working with the Portland Bureau of Transportation install street-level bike and pedestrian safety infrastructure, along with upgraded underground stormwater management pipes that connect with relocated catch basins. This street reconfiguration includes reconstructed sidewalks and curbs on sections of NE Halsey at notoriously challenging intersections with multimodal conflict points.

A map illustrating traffic directions for westbound NE Halsey St, highlighting required use of the I-84 onramp after NE 84th Ave. Features green arrows for bidirectional traffic and orange arrows indicating temporary one-way traffic.
Portland Maps image with MV News illustrations

This work is part of the NE Halsey Street (68th to 92nd Avenues) – Safety and Access to Transit Project. It builds on 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. In this section of the project, the new mini-roundabout at NE 80th Avenue and Halsey Street will address a confusing intersection, located just before one of the three NE Halsey Street freeway overpasses. Renderings posted show that people will have access to high-visibility pedestrian and bike crossings. Rebuilt and extended corners will also shorten the crossing distance, and new sidewalk segments will guide users to pathways that lead to transit connections. When contractors complete work at NE 81st Avenue, cyclists will have access to a bi-directional buffered bike track on the south side of NE Halsey Street, extending up to NE 92nd Avenue.

Map of a roundabout intersection featuring NE Halsey Street, NE 80th Street, and NE 81st Street, alongside the I-84 Eastbound off-ramp.
PBOT provided illustration showing the NE Halsey, NE 80th, and 81st junction with mini roundabout

PBOT chose this intersection design to reduce crashes while keeping traffic flowing. The roundabout will slow drivers and reduce conflict points, without requiring drivers to come to a complete stop unless a cyclist, pedestrian, or other vehicle has the right of way. The infrastructure should have a lower lifecycle cost because it does not rely on electric traffic signal equipment. Buses and fire trucks can easily drive through the center of the roundabout to make tight turns when needed, improving safety without impacting critical travel routes.

The next phase of work will focus on the northern half of the mini-roundabout, following the recent completion of the southern portion. Crews will continue to work at the site from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. All driveways on these blocks will remain open for people traveling to or from the worksite. However, street users should anticipate additional detours and follow all instructions from crews working in the area.


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Crews Complete 1st Half of NE Halsey Mini-roundabout

Crews recently completed half of a new mini-roundabout along NE Halsey Street as they work to reopen NE 80th and NE 81st Avenues to car traffic. Contractors working with the Portland Bureau of Transportation installed underground stormwater management pipes that connect with relocated catch basins as part of this street reconfiguration, which includes reconstructed sidewalks and curbs. NE Halsey remains open for east-west through traffic.

Map of a roundabout intersection featuring NE Halsey Street, NE 80th Street, and NE 81st Street, alongside the I-84 Eastbound off-ramp.
PBOT provided illustration showing the NE Halsey, NE 80th, and 81st junction with mini roundabout

This work is part of the NE Halsey Street (68th to 92nd Avenues) – Safety and Access to Transit Project. It builds on 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. In this section of the project, the new mini-roundabout at NE 80th Avenue and Halsey Street will address a notoriously confusing intersection, located just before one of the three NE Halsey Street freeway overpasses. Renderings posted show that people will have access to high-visibility pedestrian and bike crossings. Rebuilt and extended corners will also shorten the crossing distance, and new sidewalk segments will guide users to pathways that lead to transit connections. When contractors complete work at NE 81st Avenue, cyclists will have access to a bi-directional buffered bike track on the south side of NE Halsey Street, extending up to NE 92nd Avenue.

Construction site showing orange traffic cones, wooden forms, and marker flags in a partially paved area during sunset.
NE 80th Ave at NE Halsey looking east on January 15, 2026

PBOT chose this intersection design to reduce crashes while keeping traffic flowing. The roundabout will slow drivers and reduce conflict points, without requiring drivers to come to a complete stop unless a cyclist, pedestrian, or other vehicle has the right of way. The infrastructure should have a lower lifecycle cost because it does not rely on electric traffic signal equipment. Buses and fire trucks can easily drive through the center of the roundabout to make tight turns when needed, improving safety without impacting critical travel routes.

Construction site with heavy machinery, traffic cones, and barriers blocking the sidewalk and road.
NE 81st Ave looking northwest on January 15, 2026

The next phase of work will restore the road surface around the new raised concrete infrastructure so eastbound traffic can travel around the southern half of the mini-roundabout and access NE 80th and NE 81st Avenues. Then, contractors can build the northern half of the mini-roundabout. Crews will continue to work at the site from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. All driveways on these blocks will remain open for people traveling to or from the worksite. However, street users should anticipate detours and follow all instructions from crews working in the area.

A construction site featuring a newly poured concrete sidewalk, traffic cones, and road construction barriers in front of a commercial building.
NE 80th Ave at NE Halsey looking east on January 23, 2026

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NE Halsey Roundabout Construction

Crews began work at the site of a new mini-roundabout along NE Halsey Street on Monday, December 8th, blocking NE 80th and NE 81st Avenues to car traffic. NE Halsey remains open for east-west through traffic, with some delays while flaggers pause vehicle flow to allow heavy construction equipment to navigate the in-street job site. Contractors working with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) are installing underground stormwater management pipes to connect with relocated catch basins as part of this street reconfiguration, which should improve the flow of rainwater runoff in the area. Work will then progress to sidewalks and curbs.

Construction site for a mini-roundabout on NE Halsey Street with heavy machinery and traffic cones, alongside an office building.

This work is part of the NE Halsey Street (68th to 92nd Avenues) – Safety and Access to Transit Project. It builds on 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. In this section of the project, the new mini-roundabout at NE 80th Avenue and Halsey Street will address a notoriously confusing intersection, located just before one of the three NE Halsey Street freeway overpasses. Renderings posted show that people will have access to high-visibility pedestrian and bike crossings. Rebuilt and extended corners will also shorten the crossing distance, and new sidewalk segments will guide users to pathways that lead to transit connections. When contractors complete work at NE 81st Avenue, cyclists will have access to a bi-directional buffered bike track on the south side of NE Halsey Street, extending up to NE 92nd Avenue.

Map layout of a new mini-roundabout at NE Halsey Street, showing traffic flow and blocked NE 80th and 81st Avenues.
PBOT provided illustration showing the NE Halsey, NE 80th, and 81st junction with mini roundabout

PBOT chose this intersection design to reduce crashes while keeping traffic flowing. The roundabout will slow drivers and reduce conflict points, without requiring drivers to come to a complete stop unless a cyclist, pedestrian, or other vehicle has the right of way. The infrastructure should have a lower lifecycle cost because it does not rely on electric traffic signal equipment. Buses and fire trucks can easily drive through the center of the roundabout to make tight turns when needed, improving safety without impacting critical travel routes.

Road closed sign at a construction site, with barricades and construction materials visible on a wet road.
NE 81st Ave closed near NE Halsey St

Project planners anticipate up to four weeks of construction during this phase, with crews working from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. All driveways on these blocks will remain open for people traveling to or from the worksite. However, street users accustomed to accessing NE 80th and NE 81st Avenues at NE Halsey Street should anticipate detours and follow all instructions by crews working in the area.


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Sidewalk Network Grows on NE Halsey

Over the last several months, crews working with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) have created new segments of sidewalk along NE Halsey Street between NE 84th and 92nd Avenues as part of the NE Halsey Street (68th to 92nd Avenues) – Safety and Access to Transit Project. This infrastructure work aims to enhance biking and walkability on the busy roadway, which was previously made hostile to non-automotive travel due to freeway construction projects decades ago. This long-anticipated update 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.

Construction site on NE Halsey Street with workers in safety vests and traffic cones, alongside residential houses.
Contractors finishing new curb cuts leading to driveways on NE Halsey

Although currently non-contiguous, the sidewalks will soon provide a consistent pedestrian walkway along NE Halsey Street from NE 92nd to the MAX light-rail and bus transfer station at 82nd Avenue. Cyclists will gain a bidirectional pathway on the south side of the overpass, continuing up NE Halsey Street with a connection via NE Jonesmore Street to the transit junction point on NE 82nd Avenue.

An illustration showing the design of a mini-roundabout at the intersection of NE 80th and Halsey Street, including details for sidewalk construction scheduled to begin in December.
PBOT provided illustration showing the NE Halsey Jonesmore junction with new bike track

In December, PBOT anticipates that crews will begin work on installing a small roundabout at NE 80th Avenue and Halsey Street to address a notoriously confusing intersection, located just before the east-most NE Halsey Street Bridge over I-84. Posted renderings show people will have access to high-visibility crossings for pedestrians and bikes. Rebuilt and extended corners will also shorten the crossing distance, and new sidewalk segments will guide users to pathways that lead to transit connections. When contractors complete work at NE 81st Avenue, cyclists will have access to a bi-directional buffered bike track on the south side of NE Halsey Street, extending up to NE 92nd Avenue. 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.

Illustration of a mini-roundabout at NE 80th and Halsey Street, showing road layout and planned sidewalk construction.
PBOT provided illustration showing the NE Halsey, NE 80th, and 81st junction with mini roundabout
Intersection view showing a newly constructed roundabout at NE 80th Avenue and Halsey Street, with completed curbs and lane markings; vehicles approaching a stop sign in the foreground.
NE Halsey and 81st junction looking east from NE 80th Ave

Contractors are actively installing new sidewalks, curbs, and driveways, with lane closures in place adjacent to the work site. One lane in each direction remains open to drivers and TriMet vehicles. Riders may need to board westbound bus service on NE Halsey at 90th (Stop ID 2459) and 86th (Stop ID 2457) from the street due to construction. PBOT anticipates minimal impact on vehicle traffic, and the Interstate 84 eastbound onramp remains open for drivers. People interested in following this project can subscribe to updates on the PBOT project website. Federal money, Transportation System Development funds, General Transportation Revenue, ODOT Bridge Program funds, and Bureau of Environmental Services funds are covering the $8,646,720 project costs.

A sign indicating the NE Halsey Street project, showing project details and timeline for improvements between 68th and 92nd Avenues, with a nearby bus stop.

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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.

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.

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.


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