Contractors working for the Portland Bureau of Transportation expect to complete the NE 97th & Couch/Davis Local Improvement District project this month.
A newly built segment of NE Couch Street will open next week, marking the last major milestone for construction.
The local improvement district project broke ground in September 2024. The first phase of work rebuilt NE 97th Avenue from Burnside to Davis streets, replaced the traffic signal at E Burnside Street, and built a new segment of NE Davis Street from 97th to 99th avenues.
The second phase, nearing completion now, extended NE Davis Street to 100th Avenue and built NE Couch Street from 97th to 99th avenues.
PBOT worked closely with TriMet to coordinate the work at NE 97th Avenue where MAX light rail intersects E Burnside Street. Rebuilding this complicated intersection required a series of overnight closures to prevent disruption to travelers.
What's new in the project area
Travelers in the area may notice the following changes:
- New sections of NE Couch and Davis streets improve circulation within the neighborhood and support future development. On-street parking is not currently allowed on these segments.
- NE 97th Avenue will be one-way northbound from Burnside to Couch Streets. Southbound traffic must turn left at Couch Street. This will help prevent conflicts between people driving and MAX trains.
- The intersection of NE 97th Avenue and E Burnside Street now includes pedestrian crossings on all four sides.
- A new crosswalk helps people access the I-205 Multiuse Path south of E Burnside Street.
Thank you for your patience during construction.