What's happening now?
November 1, 2024 Update
Upcoming work in the next two weeks includes ADA concrete work and repaving at NE 82nd Avenue and Beech.
No work is anticipated at SE Ash in the next two weeks.
No construction activity will take place from November 23 to December 1 due to the Holiday Moratorium.
September 6, 2024 Update
Contractors with PBOT are continuing construction at SE 82nd and Ash and Beech. Current and upcoming activities include roadway demolition, underground electrical work, and corner ramp construction. The public can expect to see travel lane closures and occasional side street closures.
The contractor estimates work at both intersections will be complete by the end of 2024.
August 27, 2024 Update
Contractors with PBOT are continuing construction at SE 82nd and Ash. Current activities include excavating sidewalks and roadway. Next steps at SE Ash include construction of the signal foundations, forming and pouring new sidewalks, and repaving.
After work at SE Ash, contractors will return to NE Beech and complete similar work. We anticipate construction at NE Beech will be active again by mid-September.
The contractor estimates work at both intersections will be complete by the end of 2024.
May 30, 2024 Update
Construction continues, with signal poles and median islands coming this summer to improve safety
In the coming weeks, contractors with PBOT are continuing curb ramp construction and excavation for electrical conduit and signal foundations.
As soon as July, contractors will begin installing signal poles and constructing median islands. Later this fall after temperatures drop, trees will be planted in these median islands. We anticipate construction will be complete in spring 2025.
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.
Overview of updated traffic operations
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.
May 17, 2024 Update
In the coming weeks, contractors with PBOT will continue curb ramp construction and excavation for electrical conduit and signal foundations. Contractors are currently working at 82nd Avenue, at the intersections of 82nd Avenue at NE Beech and SE Ash streets.
Traffic impacts:
Temporary pedestrian walkways – physical barriers will be in place to direct pedestrians around the work zone during construction.
Temporary lane closures – one travel lane on 82nd Avenue will be closed near the work zones.
During the Memorial Day Holiday weekend, contractors will complete construction activity by noon Friday, May 24. No work is planned over the weekend, and no work is planned for Memorial Day, Monday, May 27.
April 10, 2024 Update
No construction activities are planned for this month at NE 82nd Avenue and Beech Street and SE 82nd Avenue and Ash Street.
February 28, 2024 Update
Planned construction activities for the next two weeks include underground storm work at NE 82nd Avenue and Beech Street and SE 82nd Avenue and Ash Street.
February 2024 Update
Planned construction activities for this month include utility and survey work at NE 82nd and Beech.
January 2024 Update
Planned construction activities for this week include tree removal at 82nd Avenue at Beech. Trees near the existing curb ramps at these intersections are being removed in order to construct new ADA-compliant curb ramps.
The project will be mitigating the tree removals and replanting where feasible in accordance with Urban Forestry's rules.
December 2023 Update
Construction activities this month include underground and sewer work on NE 82nd Avenue at NE Beech Street.
November 2023 Update
Contractors with PBOT will begin 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.
July 2023 Update
The project team and contractor are preparing for construction. Minor construction activity related to utility work is anticipated this summer. PBOT anticipates to begin construction in fall or winter 2023.
March 2023
The project team has finalized project designs and is preparing to go to bid. Construction will begin in summer 2023.
Project overview and benefits
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.
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).
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.