Intersection of SW Fourth Avenue and W Burnside Street, looking north, now fully reopened. Crew at left working on punch list items, here shown grouting the base of a new pedestrian signal pole. Photo by PBOT.
(Dec. 2, 2025) The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) has fully reopened SW Fourth Avenue through downtown, with all travel lanes, upgraded pedestrian crossings, and the protected bike lane now substantially complete.
The reopening of the corridor is a significant milestone in the SW Fourth Avenue Improvement Project, which has been under construction since last year, working to upgrade underground utilities, update outdated streetlights and traffic signals, and replace failing pavement.
Seven bus lines use SW Fourth Avenue. During the busiest times of day, the Fourth Avenue corridor improvements serve 21 buses an hour.
VIDEO:
Mayor Wilson interviews PBOT's project manager about how a new SW Fourth Avenue provides new smooth pavement, and improvements for people biking, walking and taking public transit
What's New at West Burnside and SW Fourth Avenue
The intersection of SW Fourth Avenue and West Burnside Street is now reopened with benefits for all Portlanders regardless of how they travel. For people who drive eastbound on West Burnside, a new dedicated left turn pocket at the intersection of SW Fourth Avenue will allow for safer left turns into Old Town.
For people taking TriMet, the new turn pocket expands capacity at the intersection, allowing PBOT to maintain two through eastbound travel lanes and add an eastbound bus lane on West Burnside between Fifth and Third avenues, connecting to the bus lane crossing the Burnside Bridge. These upgrades will improve the speed and reliability of TriMet lines 12, 19, and 20.
The intersection of W Burnside Street and SW Fourth Avenue looking east toward the Burnside Bridge. Photo by PBOT.
For people biking, the new protected bike lane is now fully open between SW Caruthers Street and West Burnside Street. People biking north on SW Barbur Boulevard can now use the new protected bike lane that begins just south of I-405 to bike through the heart of downtown and into Old Town. People biking northbound will use a new bike signal at the intersection of SW Fourth Avenue and SW Caruthers Street to transition from the right side of the street into the left-side protected bike lane that connects all the way to West Burnside Street, the Burnside Bridge, and into Old Town.
Paired with the southbound protected bike lane on SW Broadway, the SW Fourth Avenue Improvement Project creates a downtown cycling couplet prioritized in the Central City in Motion plan. The left-side placement reduces conflicts with right-turning vehicles, which are more frequent on SW Fourth Avenue as people use the corridor to access the Willamette River bridges.
New bicycle signal at the intersection of SW Fourth Avenue and SW Caruthers Street allows people biking to transition from the right side bike lane from SW Barbur to the left-side protected bike lane on SW Fourth Avenue to the north. Photo by PBOT.
Further north, SW Fourth Avenue's new Business Access & Transit (BAT) lane between SW Grant and SW Mill streets is also open. People driving northbound on SW Fourth Avenue wishing to turn left in this segment should do so from the new BAT lane. Please follow the new traffic signals and signs.
New Business Access & Transit (BAT) lane open on SW Fourth Avenue looking north toward SW Hall. Photo by PBOT.
The BAT lane supports the long term durability of the new pavement on SW Fourth Avenue by consolidating heavy buses into a reinforced concrete lane, reducing the likelihood of rutting and cracking over time.
The dedicated lane increases the speed and reliability of bus service for people who ride the seven bus lines along SW Fourth Avenue. During the busiest times of day, the Fourth Avenue corridor and improvements serve 21 buses an hour.
The new lane serves TriMet's Line 9, 12, 17, 19, 44, 291, and FX2. TriMet lines 12 and 44 will utilize a new transit island stop constructed as part of the project just north of SW Hall Street. Riders can check trimet.org for updates. The new stop eliminates the need for bus operators to transition from the right side of the roadway to the left, increasing speed and reliability for transit riders and keeping buses out of the way of northbound vehicular traffic.
New transit stop on SW Fourth Avenue north of SW Hall Street. Lines 12 and 44 began serving this stop on Friday, Oct. 31. Photo by PBOT.
Work on small punch list items continues
Major construction on SW Fourth Avenue is now largely complete, though, PBOT contractors and utility providers will work through December to complete small punch list items.
Forthcoming work includes the adjustment of utility maintenance hole covers, repair of several concrete sidewalk and corner panels, and the installation of additional traffic and parking signs. This work will require temporary, limited parking restrictions and occasional travel lane impacts. SW Fourth Avenue will remain open for travelers throughout punch list work.
This work is weather dependent and the schedule may change.
New stormwater facility with freshly planted street tree on SW Fourth Avenue, with PSU's Richard & Maurine Neuberger Center in the background. Photo by PBOT.
PBOT will continue to provide updates on the project website as construction nears full completion. Sign up here to receive construction updates by email.
Thank you for your cooperation and patience while we complete this work.
Project funding
This $21 million project is funded by the voter-approved 10-cent gas tax known as Fixing Our Streets, maintenance funds, as well as transportation system development charges, with additional contributions from Prosper Portland and TriMet.
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The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is the steward of the City's transportation system, and a community partner in shaping a livable city. We plan, build, manage and maintain an effective and safe transportation system that provides access and mobility.