Heads up, Portlanders: your nighttime commutes are about to hit a snag on E Burnside Street. The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) has announced that a stretch of this key artery will be shutting down for overnight construction from January 13 through to January 25. The shutdown will run from 94th to 99th avenues, right over the I-205, and is scheduled to help rebuild a busy intersection at 97th Avenue. The work aims to minimize disruption by happening from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., so most of you day commuters can breathe a sigh of relief.
Why the nocturnal hustle? PBOT is keen on both improving travel for its citizens and reducing risk for construction workers, according to an announcement shared by portland.gov. The work that's going down will tackle replacing 50 railroad ties on the TriMet MAX light rail tracks and will also enhance the roadway nearby. It's not just a temporary headache, folks. The payoff includes better streets, sidewalks, and much-needed upgrades to facilitate future housing growth in the area.
For those of you on two wheels or on foot, don't worry too much – your path is still clear. Pedestrian and bike access will be maintained through the work zone, but do keep an eye out for flaggers and construction signs. And for the motorized crowd, detours will run via NE 99th Avenue and NE Glisan Street. Keep tabs on changing transit schedules over at TriMet's website if you're a public transit rider, as some impacts are expected.
As for the finishing touches, when the springtime rolls around, you can expect to see some serious upgrades. Modern traffic signals, shiny new pedestrian crossing facilities, and a handful of curb ramps that actually meet current accessibility standards. PBOT is also working in sync with TriMet and the Oregon Department of Transportation to make sure everything goes over smoothly, especially since part of the I-205 Multiuse Path falls within the project's bounds.
These improvements aren't just for kicks – they're part of the larger NE 97th Avenue Phase II and Couch/Davis Street Local Improvement District projects that kicked off last summer. Another phase is waiting in the wings, which includes new segments of street and sidewalk to make even more room for development. Buckle up, because Portland's infrastructure is getting a face-lift, one closure at a time – all in the name of progress.
