New signals coming to the Hawthorne Bridge ramp; improvements on SW Naito continue on schedule

Traffic Advisory
At SW Naito Parkway at SW Jefferson Street work is underway for a new traffic signal, bike lanes, and a pedestrian crossing. Photo by PBOT.
Completion of long-awaited improvements will require full and partial closures of the Hawthorne Bridge this May
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Fixing Our Streets: Your Dime At Work logo featuring wrenches and roses on a pink background

(May 6, 2021) Starting Monday, May 10, a series of temporary full and partial closures of the Hawthorne Bridge will begin as crews for the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s (PBOT) SW Naito Parkway Improvement Project install new traffic signal equipment on the bridge.

In partnership with Multnomah County, PBOT is installing a new traffic signal on the northbound SW Naito Parkway to eastbound Hawthorne Bridge onramp. The new signal will make it easier for vehicles to get on the bridge from SW Naito Parkway. It will also make crossing the ramp safer and more predictable for pedestrians and people on bikes.

The public can expect to encounter significant delays and some complete closures while travelling across the Hawthorne Bridge beginning May 10 and continuing through May 31. The following traffic impacts for pedestrians, people biking, riding transit and/or driving are subject to change.

  • May 10 – June 14: Eastbound Hawthorne Bridge ramp from northbound Naito Parkway CLOSED to all users. Drivers should follow the detour signs to SW Clay or Jefferson streets, take a right on SW 2nd Avenue, and right on SW Madison Street to travel eastbound across the Hawthorne Bridge. People biking and pedestrians should also follow the detour signs to the bridge sidewalks and will be directed to use a temporary connection on the south bridge deck.
  • May 10 – May 14: Hawthorne Bridge one lane only in both directions, people biking and pedestrians will be directed to use a temporary connection on the south bridge deck.
  • May 14 – May 16: Full closure of the bridge to all drivers beginning at 8 p.m. on the May 14. TriMet bus routes will be detoured to the Morrison Bridge during the closure. For details, visit trimet.org/#alerts/ Sidewalks will remain open to people biking and pedestrians with a temporary connection on the south bridge deck.
  • May 16 -May 17: One westbound lane will open beginning at 8 a.m. on May 16, eastbound lanes will remain closed. Sidewalks will remain open to people biking and pedestrians with a temporary connection on the south bridge deck. Eastbound TriMet bus routes will be detoured to the Morrison Bridge. For details, visit trimet.org/#alerts/
  • May 17 – May 31:  Hawthorne Bridge one lane only in both directions, people biking and pedestrians will be directed to use a temporary connection on the bridge deck.

After May 31, there may be single lane closures as needed outside of peak hours on the Hawthorne Bridge. Construction on the SW Naito Parkway Improvement Project is expected to be complete this fall.

We ask the public to travel cautiously, observe all lane detours and directions by temporary traffic signals and flaggers, and use alternate routes if possible. PBOT greatly appreciates the patience and understanding of nearby residents and businesses. Learn what you can expect in our work zones and how you can help everyone stay safe by watching this video.

This work is weather dependent and subject to change.

As the project progresses, it will require future detours. Learn more and sign up to receive the latest construction updates on the SW Naito Parkway Improvement Project - I-405 to SW Jefferson website.

Better Naito Forever Logo

This work is part of a major transformation underway on SW Naito Parkway, with significant improvements stretching from I-405 to SW Jefferson Street and the Hawthorne Bridge onramp. From I-405 to SW Harrison Street, the street will be repaired and repaved. Beginning at SW Harrison and extending north to SW Jefferson, SW Naito will be completely rebuilt from the road base on up. Additionally, the project will construct a two-way separated off-street path between SW Harrison and SW Clay streets. A second project on SW Naito Parkway, Better Naito Forever, is also continuing construction and is expected to be complete by the end of 2021. Learn more about Better Naito Forever online.

The project also includes safety and efficiency improvements for all travel modes, with significant upgrades to the signal infrastructure along this stretch of SW Naito Parkway to improve the safety and efficiency for pedestrians and people driving and biking. Among the improvements are traffic signal upgrades and SW Market and Clay streets, a new pedestrian signal midblock between SW Harrison and SW Clay Street, and a full pedestrian signal at SW Jefferson with connections to Tom McCall Waterfront Park. Watch a video fly-through of the final project design.

The SW Naito Parkway Improvement Project is funded with $1,600,000 from Fixing Our Streets, with additional funding from Transportation System Development Charges and other sources. Fixing Our Streets funds are also leveraging additional Oregon Department of Transportation funding.

Special note regarding COVID-19 and construction work

PBOT has been in modified operations since March 17, 2020 and has implemented specific measures to ensure the safety of our crews and contractors. We're focused on delivering critical repairs and maintenance while taking specific steps to keep our workforce safe. These include modified shifts, social distancing, and other precautions based on current guidelines from local, state, and federal health officials. Thank you for giving our crews the space and time they need to keep our city moving.