82nd Avenue: Beech and Ash Crossings

Transportation

Under Construction

As part of this project, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) will make critical pedestrian safety improvements to 82nd Avenue at NE Beech Street and at SE Ash Street.

Construction 2023 - 2025

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What's happening now?

Pedestrians cross a four-lane street with landscaped, tree-lined median islands in the center lane. Drivers wait at a red light while pedestrians cross. — As part of the 82nd Avenue Beech and Ash Crossings Project, PBOT will install two signalized pedestrian crossings with median islands along 82nd Avenue, similar to this example rendering. As part of the project, PBOT will upgrade crossings to new pedestrian beacons. In addition to the signal improvements, PBOT will install accessible curb ramps, high-visibility crosswalks, concrete median islands. Within the intersections, medians will feature a red stamped brick pattern. Trees are set back from the intersection to maintain visibility and allow for emergency vehicle movements.

Visit our recent e-newsletters for the latest construction updates.

January 6, 2025 Update

PBOT has several active work zones along NE/SE 82nd Avenue. Please travel safely around work zones and pay attention to all flaggers and all traffic control devices.

NE 82nd at Beech – median island construction will require lane closures
SE 82nd at Ash – median island construction, tree planting will require lane closures

Overview of updated traffic operations

In a 10-year period (2012-2021), more than 90% of traffic deaths on 82nd Avenue were pedestrians or bicyclists, or people in cars turning left at locations without signals. Safe crossings and median islands are two of the most effective measures to reduce or eliminate those types of crashes.

NE/SE 82nd Avenue at the intersections of NE Beech and SE Ash streets:
- People driving will no longer be able to turn left or drive across 82nd Avenue at these intersections.
- People driving north and south on 82nd Avenue will be able to turn right onto side streets, turn right into and out of driveways, or continue straight on 82nd.
- People driving east and west on side streets will be able to turn right onto 82nd Avenue.

November 2023 Update
Contractors with PBOT began construction on Monday, November 13.

Work hours

Typical work hours will be 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. There may be occasional evening or weekend work.

What to expect during construction

Construction creates noise, vibration and dust.
Construction activities may impact neighborhood activity and normal use of driveways or business entrances. The contractor will provide advanced notification of impacts to adjacent property owners and residents.
Expect traffic delays in and near the work area. Please observe traffic control signs and follow the directions of flaggers.
On‐street parking may be restricted in and near the work zones to create a safe work environment and to stage equipment and materials.
Some equipment and materials may be stored in the public right-of-way overnight.

Traffic impacts

The traveling public should expect lane closures and delays on 82nd Avenue and side streets near the work zones.
We ask the public to travel slowly and cautiously in the work zones, observe all directions by flaggers and use alternate routes if possible.
People riding transit can visit trimet.org/#alerts/ for the latest service impacts.
This work is weather-dependent, and the schedule may change.
Thank you for your cooperation and patience while we complete this work.

Project overview and benefits

An overhead perspective of 82nd avenue street includes two travel lanes, a middle turn lane with a new median island through the Ash intersection, new striped crosswalks and trees in the median. — Draft rendering of SE 82nd Avenue and SE Ash Street Crossing

PBOT will be adding features proven to reduce fatal and serious injuries occurring in traffic crashes along 82nd Avenue.

In the most recent 10-year period of available crash data (2012-2021), there have been 14 traffic deaths and 122 people seriously injured in crashes on 82nd Avenue south of Lombard Street within the city of Portland. Preliminary estimates for 2022 – 2023 include 4 additional traffic deaths occurring on 82nd Avenue.

In that 10-year period, more than 90% of traffic deaths were pedestrians or bicyclists, or people in cars turning left at locations without signals. Two-thirds of all serious injuries were pedestrians or bicyclists, or people in cars turning left or crossing at locations without signals.

That’s why PBOT will build safe pedestrian crossings and median islands, two of the most effective measures to reduce or eliminate pedestrian and turning vehicle crashes.

PBOT will also plant trees in medians where possible, increasing the urban tree canopy along 82nd Avenue. In addition to contributing to a sense of community and livability, increasing the urban tree canopy is one critical way we can mitigate temperatures during extreme heat events.

Installing safe pedestrian crossings and median islands will result in adjustments to how people delivering goods and visiting businesses access driveways and local streets. We recognize this may create inconvenience for some businesses, but this inconvenience means improved safety for everyone.

Overhead perspective of NE 82nd Avenue and NE Beech Street crossing, showing two travel lanes, a center turn lane, a median island with new trees through the Beech Street intersection, and new crosswalks. — Draft rendering of NE 82nd Avenue and NE Beech Street crossing.

As part of this project, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) will make critical pedestrian safety improvements to 82nd Avenue at NE Beech Street and at SE Ash Street. The current crossings will be upgraded to new Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs).

In addition to the RRFBs, PBOT will install accessible curb ramps and high-visibility crosswalks at both locations and concrete median islands.

The finished crossings will look similar to NE 82nd Avenue and NE Russell Street, pictured below.

This image shows a rectangular rapid flashing beacon on 82nd Avenue. — This crossing at NE 82nd Avenue and Russell Street has a high visibility crosswalk, a concrete median island, and a RRFB with flashing lights above the crosswalk and on the right side of the crossing.

Project impacts

After construction is complete, some vehicle left-turning movements will be permanently restricted. In addition, some on-street parking will be permanently removed.

82nd Avenue at Beech

Overview of updated traffic operations

With the new median, people driving will no longer be able to turn left or travel across 82nd Avenue at the intersection.

People driving north on 82nd Avenue will be able to: Turn right at Beech, turn right into and out of driveways, or continue straight on 82nd
People driving south on 82nd Avenue will be able to: Turn right at Beech, turn right into and out of driveways, or continue straight on 82nd
People driving east on Beech will be able to: Turn right onto 82nd Avenue
People driving west on Beech will be able to: Turn right onto 82nd Avenue

Overview of parking changes

Approximately two parking spaces will be removed on NE Beech, at the northeast corner and the southwest corner. The parking spaces are being removed to provide more space for vehicles turning into and off of NE Beech and to improve vision clearance.

82nd Avenue at Ash

Overview of updated traffic operations

People driving north on 82nd Avenue will be able to: Turn right at Ash, turn right into and out of driveways, or continue straight on 82nd
People driving south on 82nd Avenue will be able to: Turn right at Ash, turn right into and out of driveways, or continue straight on 82nd
People driving east on Ash will be able to: Turn right onto 82nd Avenue
People driving west on Ash will be able to: Turn right onto 82nd Avenue

Overview of parking changes

Approximately two parking spaces will be removed on SE Ash, at the northeast corner and the southwest corner. The parking spaces are being removed to provide more space for vehicles turning into and off of SE Ash and to improve vision clearance.

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Project timeline

Project went to bid in winter 2023 and construction began summer 2023. Construction is expected to last through spring 2025.

Project funding

$1,700,000 from Fixing Our Streets

Public involvement

PBOT faces a tight timeline to deliver critical fixes on 82nd Avenue.

To meet construction deadlines, PBOT will rely on insights from the extensive community engagement the bureau and other agencies conducted over the past 10 years, including:

Bureau of Planning & Sustainability 82nd Avenue Corridor Study (1980)
PBOT 82nd Avenue Roses High Crash Corridor Safety Plan (2008)
Jade District Visioning Plan (2014)
Portland City Council Town Hall Visioning Forum on 82nd Ave
ODOT Avenue of Roses Implementation Plan (2018) 
Bureau of Planning & Sustainability 82nd Avenue Study: Understanding Barriers to Development (2018)
PBOT 82nd Avenue Plan (2019)
Connected Centers Plan (2019)
Metro’s Get Moving Regional Funding Measure (2020)
Grassroots efforts of groups including the 82nd Avenue Improvement Coalition

Through the ODOT-led planning process (2018), PBOT identified priority enhanced crossing locations on 82nd Avenue. These were vetted with the community through the planning process and included in the ODOT 82nd Avenue of Roses Implementation Plan. The crossing location recommendations included Ash and Beech intersections.

The City conducted interviews with property owners, business owners, and community members, as well as market research to better understand barriers to redevelopment.

Learn more about opportunities for public engagement

About Building a Better 82nd

Ownership of 82nd Avenue transferred from the state to the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) in 2022. A critical north-south connection and one of Portland’s high-crash corridors, 82nd Avenue is in urgent need of significant investments to improve safety and address maintenance issues.

Critical Fixes Now

PBOT is investing in 82nd Avenue to deliver critical fixes. These urgent safety and maintenance repairs to the corridor include repaving and ADA corner ramps, pedestrian crossings, street lighting, safety improvements, tree planting, and sidewalk improvements. Critical Fixes projects will be in construction between 2023 and 2026.

Future Investments Next

While completing the most critical repairs, PBOT will identify and prioritize future investments for a better 82nd Avenue. Over the next two years, PBOT will conduct broad and inclusive community engagement and work directly with community-based organizations and agency partners to determine what the bureau should focus on for improving 82nd Avenue long-term.