Heads up, commuters and locals alike: SW Oak Street is hitting the pause button for a bit. From Wednesday, July 30, to Thursday, August 7, Portland & Western Railroad is taking over the stretch at SW Adams Avenue. They're replacing tracks—so get ready to detour 24/7 until they're done.
The focus of construction will be a shift to the south by about 500 feet from the previous year's endpoint, rolling right through the intersection at SW Oak Street. Despite the inconvenience, the thoroughfare of SW Baseline will remain open to ease some of the traffic burden. The nitty-gritty details were released in a bulletin by the Oregon Department of Transportation earlier this week. Portland & Western Railroad expects to finish the work by Friday, August 8. However, since Oregon weather can change quickly, the schedule may shift.
While SW Oak Street has its little time out, signs will direct drivers along a detour, so keep your eyes peeled. If you're someone who plans their route with militaristic precision, consider visiting TripCheck.com before you head out. It's worth noting that both SW Oak and Baseline are part of the state highway OR 8—it's all there on TripCheck.
