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Stay up to date on the latest news and information about the SW Tichner Drive landslide response.
Latest updates
(May 7, 2025) - SW Tichner Drive, between West Burnside Street and SW Kingston Avenue, remains closed to vehicle traffic until further notice due to continued risk of additional debris falling on the roadway. People walking may use the north sidewalk on SW Tichner Drive. People biking may also walk their bikes on the sidewalk.
Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) engineers are reviewing contractor proposals for specialized work to stabilize the slide area. They are also assessing pricing for hauling and disposing of rock and debris that has fallen, along with additional debris that will fall during stabilization work. Stabilization efforts will require removing layers of soil, sediment, and rock near the slide location that have been identified as unstable. Early estimates assume the amount of debris would equal what has already fallen in the landslide.
Next steps include requesting Portland City Council budget approval and finalizing a contract for the work.
TriMet has moved eastbound Stop ID 712 for the 20-Burnside/Stark bus to the east by 250 feet.
Project area
The landslide occurred just south of W Burnside Road at the intersection of SW Tichner Drive, shown in the map below.
Pedestrian access has been maintained on the north sidewalk along SW Tichner Drive. People biking may also walk their bikes on the sidewalk. Motor vehicle lanes will remained closed until further notice. PBOT engineers continue to monitor the area closely and have observed indications of additional movement and rockfall.
Washington Park access
Spring and summer are some of the finest times to visit Washington Park, and some of the busiest. SW Tichner Drive is one of the northside vehicle entrances to access park amenities like the Portland Japanese Garden and International Rose Test Garden.
Plan ahead on how to get the park, and consider using the Free Park Shuttle, MAX, or bus for a low-stress visit.
The Explore Washington Park website has great tips on arriving by car, bike, transit or ride share. They also have a page dedicated to Construction & Closures where you can find updates on park access.
Recommended vehicle detour routes to Washington Park during the closure are by SW Vista Avenue to SW Park Place or SW Kingston Drive.
Please use caution and travel slowly on these detour routes, which may have more traffic than normal. Expect to see people biking and using Washington Park hiking trails when traveling on SW Kingston Drive.
Next steps
There is currently no estimate for how long it will take to accomplish the work needed to ensure the area near the landslide is safe.
PBOT is working to hire a contractor who specializes in techniques related to landslide response. Once the site is stabilized and safe for city crews to enter the area, PBOT will need to orchestrate the removal of many dump truck loads of material.
The roadway will be re-opened to motor vehicle traffic once it is determined the area is stable and protective measures are in place.
Background
On Saturday, March 29, hundreds of cubic yards of rocky material broke free from a steep, 100-foot tall rock face. The dislodged rock mass landed primarily in a PBOT sand storage lot below, but some rocks the size of bowling balls spilled onto SW Tichner Drive.
A similar mass adjacent to that one is poised to fall, this time directly onto the roadway. It could fall at any time—without prior warning - and therefore the bureau has closed both motor vehicle lanes.
Outreach
SW Tichner Drive Flyer posted near road closure