(Nov. 9, 2021) After a year and a half of construction, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) has transformed SE 136th Avenue between SE Division and SE Foster into a 1.8-mile complete street by repaving the street, building continuous sidewalks, ADA-compliant curb ramps, better access to transit stops, protected bike lanes, stormwater improvements, new street trees, and upgraded traffic signals and street lighting. The latest Fixing Our Streets-funded project is complete and open for travelers.
The 1.8 miles of continuous sidewalk added to the west side of SE 136th Avenue make it easier for students to wall, roll and stroll to neighborhood schools, including Gilbert Heights Elementary, Gilbert Park Elementary and Lincoln Park Elementary, as well as area parks such as Gates Park, Gilbert Hydro Park, and Powell Butte Nature Park, Zenger Farm, Leach Botanical Garden and more. For improved accessibility, 48 curb ramps were added or upgraded to be ADA compliant. For transit riders on TriMet bus Lines 17 and 10, improved street crossings make it easier to access the bus safely. The addition of upgraded street lighting throughout the corridor improves visibility and safety for all travelers.
In addition to the work on SE 136th Avenue, the project also added two additional bikeway connections. The first adds protected bike lanes to SE Holgate Boulevard, between SE 136th and SE 130th avenues to connect to the 130s Neighborhood Greenway. An additional bikeway added on SE Center Street uses sharrows and wayfinding signs to connect travelers to the 150s Neighborhood Greenway.
Residents and travelers through the area will also benefit from the 52 new street trees that have been added to the corridor, which provide a buffer between the street and the sidewalk and shade for travelers on hot days. The project also added six new green street planters to channel, treat, and contain stormwater runoff. A rebuilt traffic signal at SE 136th Avenue and Division Street, which is being constructed as part of the Outer Division Safety Project, will help improve safety and traffic flow at the intersection.
"This investment on SE 136th Avenue continues our focus on the historically neglected streets of East Portland and improves the quality of life for everyone in the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood," said Transportation Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty. "By creating this neighborhood amenity, the beautiful natural spaces in this part of our city, including the numerous parks and play areas, are now accessible to all."
The total project budget for the SE 136th Avenue project is $6.7M and with $4M funded by Fixing Our Streets and $2.7M in Transportation System Development Charges. The prime contractor for the project, Kodiak Pacific, is a woman-owned firm based in Sherwood, Oregon. Seven of the 11 subcontracting firms who worked on the project are certified by the state under the categories of disadvantaged, minority-owned, women-owned, emerging small businesses, or service-disabled veterans’ business enterprises (D/M/W/ESB/SDVBE). Out of the total contract, 33% of work went to these certified firms.
Learn more about the project at https://www.portland.gov/transportation/pbot-projects/construction/se-136th-paving-and-sidewalks-opportunity