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Label:
Traffic advisory
Safety improvements coming to Outer Foster
Published
Updated
(March 24, 2026) The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) advises the traveling public to expect short duration lane closures along SE Foster Road between SE Barbara Welch Road to 162nd Avenue, near the eastern city limits.
A PBOT contractor is installing yellow-and-black chevrons and reflective delineator signs -- two elements of a series of safety improvements to be installed this year.
The work and lane closures started Monday and are expected to continue on weekdays through April 3. The two-lane road will not be fully closed, but during work hours the public can expect to the two travel lanes reduced to one, with eastbound and westbound travelers taking turns in the lane.
The work site and lane closure will move through the half-mile corridor every few hours, and will only be in place during work hours, expected 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The traveling public is advised to expect delays, travel cautiously, observe all closures and directions by flaggers, and use alternate routes if possible. Local access to residences and businesses will remain available.
This work is weather-dependent, and the schedule may change.
The work is part of the Outer Foster Road- Rumble Strip Installation project. By the end of the year, PBOT contractors are expected to add rumble strips to the centerline of SE Foster Road, install high visibility centerline striping, install high visibility edge line striping, and install roadside delineator signs in the shoulder.
Full closure this summer
This summer, PBOT will close SE Foster Road between SE Barbara Welch Road to 162nd Avenue to remove existing road striping and install rumble strips. The full road closure is expected to last one day.
During the full closure of SE Foster Road this summer, traffic will be detoured via SE Barbara Welch Road to SE Clatsop Street to SE 162nd Avenue.
High rate of road departure crashes
This section of SE Foster Road experiences a higher rate of road departure crashes than other streets in Portland. The narrow shoulders, coupled with curves, has results in four lane departure crashes (one fatal) and 21 road departure crashes in the last five years.
Rumble strips are patterns of grooves on a roadway surface that create a physical vibration and audible sound when a vehicle's tires pass over them. This sensory feedback serves as a safety measure to alert drivers, particularly those who are drowsy or distracted, that they are drifting out of their lane of travel. Rumble strips help drivers self-correct their steering, which can prevent crashes, and they are particularly effective at reducing roadway departure crashes and head-on collisions.
This project is funded with approximately $170,000 from the Oregon Department of Transportation's All Roads Transportation Safety Program.
To learn more about the project and construction schedule, see the website for the Outer Foster Road - Rumble Strip Installation project.
The installation of traffic safety improvements on high crash corridors such as SE Foster Road is part of Vision Zero, the City of Portland's effort to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries. Learn more about this effort at PBOT's Vision Zero website.
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The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is a community partner in shaping a livable city. We plan, build, manage and maintain an effective and safe transportation system that provides people and businesses access and mobility.