
Construction
Construction Updates
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Portland, West Segment | Portland, East Segment | Milwaukie and north Clackamas County
Portland, West Segment
The West Segment of the project lies between Portland State University and the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Bridge.
Updated June 14, 2013
SW Lincoln in downtown Portland
Civil construction related to the project is under way along SW Lincoln Street between SW 1st and 5th avenues in downtown Portland. 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 and light rail platforms.
- The pedestrian path at SW 3rd Avenue on Lincoln Street is currently closed through late-June 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
- On June 15 and 16, crews will reconstruct the 5th Avenue PSU Art Building driveway and the parking lot will be closed.
- Through the end of July, crews are constructing track across SW 5th Avenue. Local access to Lincoln Street from 5th Avenue will be closed through June 30. Traffic and pedestrian access to Lincoln Street between 4th and 5th avenues will be from 4th Avenue. Flaggers will assist with local access. Construction will take place from 7 a.m.–6 p.m., Monday–Saturday. SW 5th Avenue local access detour map (414 KB PDF)
- During June 28, 29 and 30, access to the SW 5th Avenue on-ramp for I-5 will be closed while crews work around the clock to finish the track crossing in this area. SW 5th Avenue I-5 onramp detour (406 KB PDF) After June 30, the on-ramp access will open and construction will continue on the west half of 5th Avenue.
- Track installation continues between SW 4th and 5th avenues through late June.
Naito Parkway
The week of June 17, intermittent lane closures may occur during non-peak traffic hours on SW Naito Parkway as crews connect Naito Parkway to the Harbor Structure. Please drive slowly through the area.
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.
Portland, East Segment
The East Segment of the project in Portland lies between the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Bridge and the border between Multnomah and Clackamas counties.
Updated June 17, 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 will take place on the north side. Pedestrian will be detoured around the work. 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.
- Crews are removing 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. A new overpass will open fall 2013. SE 17th Avenue detour map
- 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. All northbound traffic must turn around at Haig Street. 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), and 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.
- The week of June, 17, the new northbound lane opens between Rhine and Rhone streets, with limited left turns and crossing locations:
- No left turns or crossing of 17th Avenue at Rhine Street (during one-week track installation)
- No left turns or crossing of 17th Avenue at Lafayette Street except for pedestrians (permanently)
- No left turns or crossing of 17th Avenue at Rhone Street (permanently)
- SE Mall Street is closed at the west side of 17th Avenue through August for civil construction.
Look Ahead
Beginning the week of June 24, there will be no northbound traffic on 17th Avenue north of Rhine Street. This restriction remains in place until the new bridge onto Powell Boulevard opens this fall.
SE McLoughlin Boulevard
- For the first few days during the week of June 17, SE 17th Avenue between McLoughlin Boulevard and Schiller Street will be closed to northbound traffic intermittently during work hours to accommodate utility construction. Northbound traffic will be detoured onto McLoughlin Boulevard. Northbound buses will be detoured to SE Milwaukie Avenue via Insley Street.
- Starting the week of June 17 and continuing for about one week, southbound SE McLoughlin Boulevard at 17th Avenue will be narrowed to two lanes, and Mitchell Street at 17th Avenue will be constrained. These restrictions will be during the hours of 7 a.m. to 3 pm., while crews work on foundations for new traffic signals.
- 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.
Milwaukie and north Clackamas County
This portion of the project lies between the border separating Multnomah and Clackamas counties and the SE Park Ave Station, the project's south terminus.
Updated June 17, 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)
Additional Downtown Construction
City of Milwaukie crews are performing utility construction throughout downtown Milwaukie. These crews are not managed by TriMet. To obtain the most up to date information on City of Milwaukie construction projects, please call 503-786-7555 or email wheeler@ci.milwaukie.or.us. City project information is listed under the “PROJECTS” tab on the city’s homepage.
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.
- Utility work on SE Mailwell Drive will shift roadway traffic at the track crossing. Crews also continue to build retaining and safety walls from SE Mailwell Drive to Crystal Creek. Flaggers will direct traffic.
Downtown Milwaukie (Highway 224 to Lake Road)
- Work to reconstruct SE Harrison Street between 23rd and 26th avenues has shifted to the south side of the street and the south sidewalk is closed. Pedestrians will be directed to the north sidewalk. The work continues through mid-June. During the Washington Street closure beginning June 24, the Harrison Street roadway will be open and crews will conduct work behind the curbs. 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, Watch for concrete trucks entering and exiting the light rail guideway.
- The week of June 17, the City of Milwaukie’s contractor is scheduled to completely close SE Monroe Street between 25th and 29th avenues TriMet construction crews continue waterline work on the south side of SE Monroe Street between the Waldorf School parking lot and slightly west of SE 23rd Street. On the north side of Monroe Street, crews are completing sidewalk reconstruction. Flaggers will provide two-way traffic access in this section of Monroe Street and signage will direct pedestrians. Work activities will continue through August.
- Utility work at SE Washington Street is taking place on the east side of the track crossing, progressing north to south, in preparation for the Washington Street closure from June 24 through June 30. Flaggers will direct traffic and maintain pedestrian and disabled access.
- Crews will pour concrete for retaining walls between SE Washington and Adams streets.
Look Ahead
During summer and fall of 2013, construction on light rail track crossings will result in a series of temporary street closures (50 KB PDF). The work involves construction of two light rail and one heavy rail track on SE Harrison, Monroe, Washington and Adams streets and 21st Avenue. In addition, Kellogg Bridge girders will be placed over SE McLoughlin Boulevard.
- From June 24-30, SE Washington Street will be closed between 21st and 23th avenues. Local access to businesses on the eastside of the rail crossing will be provided via Washington Street at 25th Avenue. Pedestrian access (crossing the rail tracks) will be provided on the north side of Washington Street. Bus Line 29 Lake/Webster Road will be detoured via 27th Avenue to Lake Road to 21st Avenue. Four bus stops on Washington Street between SE 21st and 25th avenues will be closed. The closure will remain in effect 24 hours a day during this phase of the work. SE Washington detour map (3 MB PDF)
- SE Harrison Street will be closed July 8-15.
- SE 26th Avenue at McLoughlin Boulevard will be permanently closed beginning August 1.
- SE Monroe Street will be closed August 5-25.
- SE McLoughlin Boulevard will be closed between Washington Street and River Road August 16-19 from 10 p.m. Friday through 5 a.m. Monday.
- SE Adams Street and 21st Avenue will be closed October 21- November 3.
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 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.
- On Sparrow Street at 26th Avenue, utility work will create minor traffic shifts. Watch for signage.
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.
Construction Timeline










