| MLK Truck Detour Route |
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An inspection of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Viaduct on 99E in southeast Portland (milepoint 1.15) revealed continuing deterioration and the need to reduce the southbound gross vehicle weight limit on the bridge from 62,000 pound to 50,000 pounds. As of June 15, 2002, all trucks weighing in excess of 50,000 pounds, and all combination trucks, must use the designated detour route.
MLK truck detour map (click on the map for a pdf of the map)
Carriers exceeding these limits on the bridge south of SE Stephens Street are subject to citation and fines, which can range from $92 for violation of posted limits, to thousands of dollars for excess weight violations. Drivers of vehicles with gross weights exceeding the posted limit by 10,000 lbs or more are subject to criminal misdemeanor charges carrying a base fine of $624 plus $.30 for each pound over 10,000. Axle weights on the structure are restricted to 20,000 lbs for a single axle, or 34, 000 pounds for a tandem axle combination. The black and white signs on the bridge have been changed to reflect the new restriction.
The 65-year-old viaduct is structurally deficient and slated for replacement. A $36 million project to replace the viaduct is currently scheduled to begin late in 2005. Construction to replace the structure is expected to take two years, and the weight restriction will remain in effect until the new structure is completed.
The southbound viaduct currently carries about 25,000 vehicles a day. Highway 99E is a primary freight route for the Portland metropolitan area -- about 1,800 of the vehicles that use it are trucks. This is approximately seven percent of the total volume.
Based on recent traffic counts by truck classification, ODOT anticipates approximately 700 trucks over a 24-hour period will be affected by the weight restriction. Taking the heaviest volumes of the day, around the noon hour, approximately 60 trucks per hour (or one per minute) are expected to use the detour route during peak travel times.
For the duration of the weight restriction, overweight loads will be detoured off of SE Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard (Hwy 99E) at SE Mill Street. From SE Mill Street trucks will turn south onto SE 3rd Avenue and continue southeast on SE Division Street to SE 8th Avenue. After turning south onto SE 8th Avenue, detoured vehicles will use SE Division Place westbound to access the southbound Grand Avenue slip-ramp on the west side of the viaduct to get back onto Hwy 99E (McLoughlin Boulevard).
The detour route was developed by a Load Restriction Response Team, made up of ODOT bridge, maintenance, traffic and motor carrier division personnel; City of Portland traffic personnel; and representatives of the Oregon Trucking Association, Central Eastside Industrial Council, and Greater Brooklyn Business Association. The goal was to keep the detour route within the industrial area, and as short as possible.
Go to the MLK Viaduct Project Web site.
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