It’s been over a year since we shared news of an ODOT project that will improve bicycle access in southwest Portland near the Ross Island Bridge. A few days ago they finally announced that it will start construction in mid-June. They’ve also announced an open house for the project on June 3rd. See more details in the press release below:
ODOT will start construction on a bicycle and pedestrian safety improvement project on SW Kelly Avenue (U.S. 26) between SW 1st Avenue and the west side of the Ross Island Bridge in mid- to late June. Construction is scheduled to be complete in late fall 2013.
ODOT, the City of Portland, Trimet, the National College of Natural Medicine, Portland State Business Accelerator and the South Portland Neighborhood Association partnered in 2012 to design this safety improvement project, which focused on traffic calming. The project is expected to improve safety and to reduce the overall severity of crashes in the area. This project will:
- Restripe the exit from Kelly Avenue to Naito Parkway to provide one exit lane to Naito Parkway (matching the new one lane section further north), two through lanes for Kelly Avenue, and a marked bike lane and safer pedestrian crossing on the ramp.
- Change Meade Street into a cul-de-sac at Kelly Avenue. Drivers will access Meade Street via Water, Arthur and Corbett instead.
- Install a Rapid Flash Beacon and marked crosswalk on Kelly Avenue just south of Meade Street.
- Provide a pedestrian refuge and restrict turning movements by removing the inside southbound Kelly Avenue travel lane and replacing it with a raised concrete median island (from Meade Street to just south of Corbett Avenue).
- Restrict access to Corbett Avenue from Kelly Avenue for drivers traveling from the Ross Island Bridge. Drivers will access Corbett Avenue via Water and Arthur streets instead.
- Replace the pavement on Ross Island Way between Arthur Street and the ramp onto the Ross Island Bridge.
You’re Invited!
ODOT will host a pre-construction open house on Monday, June 3. The public may stop by between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. to learn about the project and the anticipated impacts to motorists and other users during construction. Staff from Trimet will also provide information about upcoming traffic impacts in the area related to the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Transit Project now under construction.The meeting will take place at the National College of Natural Medicine’s Administration Building, Ken Harmon Community Room (suite 325), 2828 SW Naito Parkway in Portland. Free parking is available in the lot next to the building (visitors may use non-visitor parking spaces after 5 p.m.).
Starting on June 4, people who can’t attend the open house will be able to review information about the project and submit questions directly to staff online by visiting the project website.
For more information about this project, please contact ODOT Community Affairs Coordinator Jilayne Jordan at 503-731-8237, or Jilayne.Jordan@odot.state.or.us.
“pedestrian refuge”
– we should have more candid language like this –
ref·uge
Noun
A condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble.
Something providing such shelter.
One day we’ll have refuges for the auto-mobile.