5th and 6th avenues now open to through traffic

Heavy civil construction on Portland Mall project completed ahead of schedule

The Portland Mall Light Rail Project has completed all major heavy construction. The Mall is now open to through traffic on 5th and 6th avenues from NW Irving Street at Union Station to SW Jackson Street at Portland State University.

Track and street construction on the Mall was completed over two months ahead of schedule. All 35 brick intersections along the Mall have also now been installed. Continuing work on the Mall includes building foundations for poles and shelters, restoring sidewalks, stringing overhead wires and installing furnishings.

The following provides an update for each construction activity and future milestones.

Portland Mall Construction Update Percent Complete

Brick intersection installations 100% (35 of 35 installed)
Civil construction on Mall 100% (18 of 18 work zones)
Water and sewer relocations 99% (punch list items)

Future Portland Mall Milestones Projected Completion Date

North Terminus construction Summer 2008
Steel Bridge rail tie-in August 2008
South Terminus construction Fall 2008
Buses return to Portland Mall Spring 2009
MAX service begins on Portland Mall Sept. 2009

About the project

TriMet's fifth MAX line will add light rail between Gateway Transit Center and Clackamas Town Center, and to 5th and 6th avenues in downtown Portland between Union Station and Portland State University (PSU). It is the first light rail extension into Clackamas County, it will serve the heart of downtown Portland and the busiest transit destination in the TriMet system - PSU. When it opens in September 2009, it will help revitalize the Mall and poise the region for future rail extensions.