Drivers heading through Portland's SE Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard better brace for a series of delays, starting tonight at the not-so-witching hour of 9 p.m. The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) has kicked off lane reductions that will snarl nighttime traffic, all in the name of progress with their Central Eastside Access and Circulation project. The city is looking to give its freight access a face-lift and ease up the push and pull between different modes of transport at the Central Eastside, according to PBOT.
For the commuters who prefer the dark, these nightly lane closures will be a fixture from tonight until February 22, and will reopen every morning at 5 a.m. That's the small mercy handed out by the transportation bureau, eager to keep daylight travel somewhat smoother, if not entirely untangled. PBOT promises these disruptions are all part of a grander scheme, in harmony with the SE Quadrant Plan, the Central City 2035 plan, and the Central City in Motion, the same outlet reports.
What this means for the good folks pedaling, strolling, or cruising through the area is the test of patience as they wind their way past flaggers and construction zones under the cloak of night. PBOT isn't blind to the ripple effect of noise and inconvenience this may cause the neighboring residences and businesses, either. With a nod to the local transit riders, the bureau points those affected to TriMet's website for real-time updates on service impacts.
The bureau has one ask: for the public to keep a cautious eye and adhere to lane detours and directives given by flaggers and temporary traffic signals. Seeking alternative routes isn't a bad idea either, according to the city's transportation experts. Contributions to the construction cacophony are of course weather depending, and those out there crossing their fingers for an uninterrupted journey may catch a break, if Mother Nature decides to play ball.
All said and done, Portlanders are thanked for their patience and understanding, a little token of appreciation from PBOT as they soldier on through the inevitability of urban evolution. Keep up with the latest schedule shifts that may occur courtesy of whimsical skies by staying tapped into local announcements. And for now, buckle up — or rather, button up for those on foot or two wheels — for the coming nights of travel chess on SE Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
