Drivers in Portland should brace for disruptions as the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) lays down new pavement on SW Fourth Avenue, starting tonight at 8 p.m.
The closure, which will span the segment of SW Fourth Avenue northbound between SW Columbia and Yamhill streets, is part of the ongoing SW Fourth Avenue Improvement Project. According to the PBOT's announcement, the work will seal off the stretch until 5 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 22. While the intersections of SW Columbia, Madison, and Yamhill streets with Fourth Avenue will stay open, the necessary grind and pave operations will induce, some nighttime construction noise, particularly on the evenings of Sept. 19 and Sept. 20.
To navigate around the closures, detour signs will be in place. Those traveling north on SW Fourth Avenue will be rerouted at SW Columbia Street to SW Second Avenue, and alterations will affect various other cross-streets in the neighborhood. Commuters are advised to allow extra time and consider alternative routes. Although the roadwork may clash with weekend plans, sidewalks will remain open for pedestrians, and TriMet is on hand for public transit updates on service impacts at TriMet.org.
Looking beyond this weekend's closures, PBOT is plowing ahead with a northward push on SW Fourth Avenue to install ADA-compliant ramps and additional concrete traffic separators. Noise from upcoming construction activities, which include sawcutting and demolition, is expected to resonate in the area. PBOT has mapped out a schedule signifying further road closures, with another round set for the weekend of September 26 and paving stretching from SW Harvey Milk to West Burnside streets pencilled in for the weekend of October 11, "weather permitting."
Access to local homes and businesses will be maintained, although parking will be restricted in the vicinity of the work zone. As the cityscape morphs under the weight of such infrastructure enhancements, PBOT pledges updates through the project's website, where residents can also sign up for email notifications to keep abreast of progress and expected disruptions.
