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Oregon Department of Transportation - Region 1 (Portland Metro Area)

U.S. 26 (SW Kelly Avenue) Bicyle and Pedestrian Safety Project: Ross Island Bridge to SW 1st Avenue

Current Status

This project is scheduled to start construction in June 2013 and be complete in November 2013.

You're Invited: Public Open House June 3

ODOT will host an informal public open house where interested members of the public can find out more about the project, talk to ODOT staff and learn about traffic and nighttime noise impacts during construction. Staff from Trimet will also provide information about the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Transit Project and its upcoming traffic impacts in this area.

 
Monday, June 3, 2013
5:30-7:30 p.m.
There will be no formal presentations, so stop by anytime!
National College of Natural Medicine (NCNM) Administration Building
Ken Harmon Community Room (suite 325)
2828 SW Naito Parkway
Directions/Map

 
Information from the open house will also be posted on this Web page no later than the end of the day on Tuesday, June 4. People unable to attend the open house are welcome to submit comments and questions via email at any time. 

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Project Description

ODOT, the City of Portland, TriMet, the National College of Natural medicine, Portland State Business Accelerator and the South Portland Neighborhood Association have partnered on a bicycle and pedestrian safety project with a focus on traffic calming. The project extends along U.S. 26 (SW Kelly Avenue) from the west end of the Ross Island Bridge to SW 1st Avenue. The project is expected to improve safety and to reduce the overall severity of crashes in the area. 

 
UPDATE: New project element added
 
In late 2012, ODOT added a pavement repair element to this project. This element would have been built as a separate project, but combining the two projects will help save money on construction. The new pavement preservation project will remove and replace the concrete on SW Ross Island Way southbound between SW Arthur Street and the Ross Island Bridge on ramp.
 
The project overview handout provides more information about the following project elements. 

 

 
SW Kelly Avenue at SW Naito Parkway
 /ODOT/HWY/REGION1/kellyavenue/naito_small.jpg 

 

  • Reduces the exit to SW Naito Parkway from northbound SW Kelly Avenue from two lanes to one.
  
 
SW Kelly Avenue at SW Meade Street
/ODOT/HWY/REGION1/kellyavenue/naito_small.jpg 
  • Constructs a cul-de-sac on SW Meade Street at SW Kelly Avenue. Drivers will access SW Meade Street via SW Water Avenue, SW Arthur Street or SW Corbett Avenue instead.
  • Installs a Rapid Rectangular Flash Beacon and marked crosswalk on SW Kelly Avenue just south of SW Meade Street.
  • Removes the inside southbound travel lane on southbound SW Kelly Avenue and replaces it with a raised concrete median island (from SW Meade Street to just south of SW Corbett Avenue).
  
 
SW Kelly Avenue at SW Corbett Avenue
/ODOT/HWY/REGION1/kellyavenue/naito_small.jpg 
  • Restricts access to SW Corbett Avenue from SW Kelly Avenue for drivers traveling from the Ross Island Bridge. Drivers will access SW Corbett Avenue via SW Water Street or SW Arthur Street instead.
  
 
SW Kelly Avenue at SW Porter Street/Hood Avenue
/ODOT/HWY/REGION1/kellyavenue/naito_small.jpg 
  • Replaces the existing northbound lane from SW Kelly Avenue to SW Corbett Avenue with a new bus pullout and stop.
  • Installs a sidewalk and a new bike path adjacent to the new bus pullout.
  • Installs a pedestrian refuge island at the intersection of SW Kelly Avenue and SW Porter Street.
  • Installs a pedestrian refuge island at the intersection of SW Kelly Avenue and SW Hood Avenue.
  
 
SW Kelly Avenue at SW Hood Avenue
/ODOT/HWY/REGION1/kellyavenue/naito_small.jpg 
  • Installs a sidewalk with an adjacent planter strip that will connect to the new Gibbs Street Pedestrian Bridge.
 
 
 
Project Timeline & Traffic Impacts
Construction is estimated to begin in June 2013 and wrap up by November 2013. Most work will take place during daytime hours. However, because of high traffic volumes on Kelly Avenue, night work is required for several project elements:
  • Installing a concrete median on Kelly Avenue between Meade and just south of Corbett.
  • Installing a concrete median at the intersection of Kelly and Porter.
  • Installing a concrete pedestrian island at the intersection of Kelly and Hood.
 
Nighttime work will take place between 6 p.m. and 7 a.m. the following morning and will include: pavement grinding in the vicinity of new concrete medians/islands, and drilling and clearing of holes for anchoring dowels for the new concrete medians/islands. This work will take up to seven nights to complete. All other work will take place during daytime hours.
 
Once construction begins, a 24-hour noise hotline will be in use. ODOT will distribute that number to nearby neighbors and post the number on the project website. 
 
 
Public Meetings

ODOT hosted a public open house about this project in April 2012. 

A final public open house is scheduled for Monday, June 3, 2013 at the National College of Natural Medicine (see Current Status section at the top of the page).

Comments and questions about this project are welcome.

 

Contact Information
 
Jilayne Jordan, Community Affairs Coordinator 
503-731-8237