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Portland, West Segment |  Portland, East Segment  |  Milwaukie and north Clackamas County

Updated May 17, 2013

SW Lincoln in downtown Portland

Construction related to the project is under way along SW Lincoln Street between SW 1st and 5th avenues in downtown Portland with civil construction. Construction will take place from 7 a.m.–6 p.m., Monday–Friday. Flaggers will assist with local access; driveway and building access will be maintained.

SW Lincoln between SW 1st and 4th avenues

• Intermittent lane drops will occur on both the north and south side of SW Lincoln Street between 1st and 4th avenues while crews work on track installation, light rail platforms and permanent street lighting.
• Crews are installing landscaping at University Place.
• The pedestrian path at SW 3rd Avenue on Lincoln Street may be intermittently closed through mid-May as crews finish track installation in the area. Pedestrians are detoured to the crosswalk at 4th Avenue or the pedestrian path at 2nd Avenue during this work.

SW 4th and 5th Avenues

• The week of May 20, crews will plant trees on SW 4th Avenue.
• The week of May 20, track installation will begin between SW 4th and 5th avenues.

The Harbor Structure

The Harbor structure segment of the project is being built from SW Naito Parkway at Lincoln Street over several roadways in South Waterfront. Harbor structure construction map (564 KB PDF). Intermittent lane drops continue on Harbor Drive and River Parkway as deck work continues.

Work at SW Moody Avenue requires intermittent truck crossings through the sidewalk between the Collaborative Life Sciences building site and the 3030 SW Moody building – especially on the east side. Please travel slowly through this area.

Updated May 13, 2013

Typical construction hours are Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m.–6 p.m. During construction some on-street parking spaces may be unavailable. Local access to driveways will be maintained. Over the next several months, private utility relocation will take place at several locations throughout the alignment. Although this work is in preparation for light rail construction, these crews are not managed by TriMet. In some instances as noted below, tree removal will be necessary. Tree Preservation and Replacement (1.2 MB PDF)

Eastside Greenway Trail Detour

• Through June 30, 2014, the Eastside Greenway trail is closed between SE Caruthers Street and OMSI while light rail crews reconstruct the trail and create the landside piers for the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Bridge. Pedestrians and cyclists are safely detoured to SE Water Avenue, which has sidewalks and bike lanes and connects directly to SE 4th Avenue and the Springwater trail. Pedestrians and cyclists can return to the Eastside Greenway trail at SE Clay Street. Please watch for signage. Eastside Greenway Trail detour map (416 KB PDF)
• A new permanent traffic configuration change is in effect at SE 4th Avenue and Caruthers Street. A stop sign on Caruthers Street will now direct traffic headed east and west to stop at 4th Avenue. Through north and south traffic on 4th and Water avenues may continue without stopping.

SE Water Avenue

The newly aligned SE Water Avenue is open with temporary lighting and striping. Barricades are placed at SE 2nd Place (Old Water Avenue) but local access to businesses and pedestrian access to the streetcar remains.

SE Division Street and SE Division Place

• Guideway and sidewalk demolition will take place on the north side of SE Division Place between 7th and 9th avenues. On SE 7th Avenue, the sidewalk will be closed and a temporary crosswalk will be in place. Watch for signage.
• On SE Division Street between 8th and 11th avenues, sidewalk demolition has shifted pedestrians to the north side. Bicyclists are directed to use the roadway during this work. Watch for signage.
• SE 9th Avenue is closed to through traffic at Division Place.
• SE Clinton Street is now permanently closed to automotive traffic on 11th and 12th avenues. Sidewalk and lane closures will affect bicyclists and pedestrians with separate detours. Bicyclists will be directed to an alternate route around the work using a temporary path and adjacent streets. Watch for signage.
• Between SE Division Street and Powell Boulevard, Gideon Street lane restrictions will move traffic through a chicane route between 11th and 12th avenues. Northbound SE Milwaukie Avenue is reduced to one traffic lane north of Powell Boulevard until August 2013. This work is advance roadway preparation for the light rail grade crossings that take place mid-summer 2013. Flaggers will direct traffic when needed.

Look Ahead

Beginning May 20, crews will remove the east sidewalk on SE Milwaukie Avenue between Gideon Street and Powell Boulevard. Pedestrians will be directed to the west side.

SE 17th Avenue and Powell Boulevard overpass

The SE 17th Avenue overpass of SE Powell Boulevard has been removed and reconstruction is under way on new retaining walls and bridge abutments. A new overpass will open fall 2013. SE 17th Avenue detour map

• The weekend of May 17, SE Powell Boulevard will be completely closed between 13th and 21st avenues as crews place girders for the new structures over Powell Boulevard. The eastbound off-ramp to southbound 17th Avenue will remain open. Through traffic will be detoured to Holgate Boulevard via McLoughlin and Cesar Chavez boulevards. To minimize traffic impacts, this work will take place 24 hours a day starting at 10 p.m. Friday night (with lane closures starting at 8 p.m.) through 5 a.m. Monday morning. Powell Boulevard Closure Map (312 KB PDF)
• Intermittent pile driving will take place north and south of Powell Boulevard. These piles are for safety walls between the light rail and heavy rail tracks.
• Powell Boulevard will be narrowed to one lane near the railroad overpass intermittently between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Access to driveways and side streets will not be affected.
• The Powell frontage road is closed between 17th and 18th avenues for retaining wall work and construction of a new sidewalk between 17th and 19th avenues. Businesses will remain accessible but watch for detour signage.
• Northbound 17th Avenue is detoured to SE McLoughlin Boulevard via Holgate Boulevard, but remains open to local traffic. At Haig and Rhine streets, detours are in place. Through traffic is discouraged from using neighborhood streets.
• Northbound bus lines 17 and 70 are detoured to SE Milwaukie Avenue via Center Street. Bus service alerts.
• Southbound 17th Avenue, including access from Powell Boulevard, remains open.
• Pedestrians/bicycles: Northbound and southbound bike/pedestrian access across SE Powell Boulevard at 17th Avenue is closed. Sidewalks underneath the structure are closed until fall 2013. Alternatives to crossing Powell Boulevard include the bike/pedestrian overpass at SE 9th Avenue and signals at SE Milwaukie, 13th and 21st avenues.

SE 17th Avenue

• Between SE Pershing Street and McLoughlin Boulevard, traffic on SE 17th Avenue may be reduced to one lane (two-way access provided by flagger), some bus stops and sections of sidewalks may be closed. Access between 17th Avenue and some side streets may be closed during work hours. Motorists, cyclists and pedestrians should follow detour signage.
• At SE Haig and Rhine streets, detours are in place for underground utility and civil construction. Motorists, cyclists and pedestrians should follow detour signs.
• SE Lafayette Street is closed at the east side of 17th Avenue for about two weeks for civil construction.
• On SE Center Street west of 17th Avenue, crews continue street and sidewalk construction. Center Street is restricted to one-way westbound traffic at 17th Avenue and right turns from southbound 17th Avenue to westbound Center Street are prohibited. 17th Avenue remains open.

Look Ahead

Beginning the week of May 20 and continuing until this fall, northbound SE17th Avenue will be closed north of Rhine Street. For about two weeks, light rail tracks will be installed on Rhine Street, which will be restricted to one-way westbound traffic east of 17th Avenue. Southbound 17th Avenue will remain open.

SE McLoughlin Boulevard

• The right lane on northbound McLoughlin Boulevard is closed north of Harold Street for several months to accommodate building demolition and work on the structure that will carry light rail trains over the Brooklyn Yards entrance.
• Below the Bybee Bridge, crews are working on the station entrance structures.
• The shoulder lane is closed on northbound McLoughlin Boulevard at Tacoma Street, where crews are working on the bridges that will carry light rail trains over the on/off ramp for northbound McLoughlin Boulevard at Tacoma Street and over Johnson Creek.

Updated May 13, 2013

Normal construction work is allowed in the City of Milwaukie from Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. and on Saturday through Sunday from 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
In Clackamas County, normal construction hours are Monday through Saturday 7 a.m.–6 p.m.

Over the next several months, private utility relocation will take place at several locations. Although this work is in preparation for light rail construction, these crews are not managed by TriMet.

Limited tree removal and tree trimming will take place in preparation for subsequent construction. This work is being performed under contract with a federal wildlife biologist to ensure compliance with federal law protecting birds. The biologist will conduct ongoing on-site surveys. Tree Preservation and Replacement (1.2 MB PDF)

Milwaukie North Industrial Area (Springwater Corridor to Highway 224)

• Crews continue to build the Tillamook Bridge decking, install track and ballast, and build safety walls.
• Crews continue to build retaining and safety walls from SE Mailwell Drive to Crystal Creek. Flaggers will direct traffic on Mailwell Drive when needed as crews pour walls.

Downtown Milwaukie (Highway 224 to Lake Road)

• Traffic on SE 26th Avenue south of the overpass will be reduced to one lane as crews perform utility work. Two-way access will be provided by flaggers.
• Work to widen SE Harrison Street between 23rd and 26th avenues has shifted to the south side of the street and the south sidewalk is closed. Eastbound traffic has moved to the center lane. The work continues through May. Watch for flaggers and signage.
• Crews are pouring Ashler rock architectural facade for the retaining wall between Highway 224 and SE Monroe Street. The work will progress north and continue until summer 2013.
• Underground utility work on the north side of SE Monroe Street between the Waldorf School parking lot and slightly west of SE 23rd Street will close the north lane and the north sidewalk. As soon as this utility work is complete, crews will begin reconstructing curbs, sidewalks, driveways and storm water planters on the north side of Monroe Street. Flaggers will provide two-way traffic access and signage will direct pedestrians to the south side of the street. Work activities will continue through August.
• Crews are reconstructing curbs and sidewalks on the south side of SE Washington Street. Flaggers will direct traffic control and maintain pedestrian and disabled access.
• Crews will work on footings for retaining walls between SE Washington and Adams streets.
• Waterline work on SE 21st Avenue and Adams Street has reduced traffic to one lane with flaggers providing two-way access. Some parking on Adams Street and on 21st Avenue between Adams Street and Lake Road may be closed. Driveway and pedestrian access will be maintained. This phase of work will continue for one more week, then the single traffic lane will shift to the west side.

Kellogg Structure Construction Preparation

• SE Lake Road is now closed at the Kellogg railroad trestle bridge. SE Main Street has been made into a cul-de-sac north of the trestle bridge and the U.S. Post Office mail drop-off boxes are moved to the center of the street. This closure will remain in place until late 2013.
• Crews continue to build columns for the Kellogg Bridge that will carry the light rail over Kellogg Lake.

Trolley Trail Detour

Pedestrians and bicyclists on the Trolley Trail are detoured between SE Park Avenue and River Road through 2014. Trolley Trail detour map (377 KB PDF)

• The portion of the Trolley Trail between Milwaukie Riverfront Park and SE River Road has reopened. This section will remain open until August 2013.
• Crews are conducting utility work along the Trolley Trail from SE Sparrow Street to Park Avenue.
• Crews are working on retaining walls adjacent to the Trolley Trail, including a 1,000-foot long gabion wall. Drilling will take place south of SE River Road.

Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Bridge

Construction on the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Bridge began July 1, 2011, with in-water work. The first phase of construction includes creation of temporary work bridges and the placement of cofferdams around the sites where the bridge tower foundations will be constructed.

• Learn more about the light rail bridge.

Construction Timeline