(January 2, 2026) We really appreciate your patience during construction around NE 60th Avenue and Halsey Street, and we're sorry for any inconvenience the detour is causing you.
During excavation, crews discovered a very old and large brick water vault against the curb at the southeast corner of NE 60th Avenue and NE Halsey Street. Inside the water vault is an aging gate valve that Portland Water Bureau needs to replace. Work on the water vault has been postponed to later in January.
Because there is a high labor cost to remove and reinstall the detour between work days, the detour will remain in place for several weeks in January while work is underway. As soon as a more specific timeline is available, we will share updates through the GovDelivery email system and on the project website.
Work planned for January 2026
There is still a lot of work planned around NE 60th and Halsey in January 2026, including:
- Water vault repair work at southeast corner of NE 60th and Halsey
- Curb ramp work at the southwest and southeast corners of NE 60th and Halsey
- Work at the northeast corner of NE 60th and Holladay
- Sidewalk replacement near existing utility poles
This work requires ongoing traffic control and space in the roadway to safely complete the improvements.
Once the weather is warm enough for paving, the detour will also need to be put back in place for pavement restoration on NE 60th Avenue.
Why this closure is especially challenging
This is a particularly challenging closure. In order to maintain access to I-84, it was necessary to keep freeway access open in both directions. To create a safe work zone and provide the contractor enough room to complete the improvements, northbound traffic on NE 60th Avenue had to be temporarily closed.
While message boards and signage are in place to notify drivers of the closure, we know that some drivers are still bypassing the signs and cutting through nearby residential streets, including NE 61st Avenue. Unfortunately, we cannot fully barricade the northbound entrance at the freeway because we must maintain access for local businesses and residents. Even with barriers, experience has shown that some drivers will navigate around them, particularly since southbound NE 60th Avenue remains open.
We are working to request additional paving resources for this area in the coming summers. Paving requires warm, rising temperatures and is typically done during the summer months. While paving funds are limited and prioritized citywide, we are actively calling attention to the needs in this area.
Thank you again for your patience. Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions.