SE 50th Avenue Paving Project Will Cause Delays Through Monday

PORTLAND, OR — A paving project has caused a portion of Southeast 50th Avenue to close through Monday morning, according to the Portland Bureau of Transportation. Local access for residents and businesses will be allowed during construction, but all other commuters should consider alternate routes or expect delays.

The Fixing Our Streets SE 50th Avenue Paving Project will reportedly cost more than $1.15 million when it's complete.

Southeast 50th Avenue, from Southeast Division Street to Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard, was closed as of 10 p.m. Thursday; it will remain closed through 6 a.m. Sept. 24.

City transportation officials said drivers should note the following:

• Traffic heading northbound should use detour on SE Cesar E. Chavez Blvd.;
• Avoid using non-approved detour routes (i.e. through neighborhood streets);
• Driveways and side streets on Southeast 50th Avenue will still remain accessible for local residents;
• No parking in the lane closure (north side of street) from Southeast 50th Avenue to Southeast Lincoln Street; however, parking on the opposite south side of the street will remain available; and
• Northbound Tri-met bus #14 will be rerouted to Southeast 52nd Avenue during construction.

The construction area will be managed by reader boards and flaggers, officials said.

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The paving project was begun to address ongoing issues related to early 20th century trolley rails that were originally paved over and have since been deteriorating and causing potholes and other dangers along a portion of Southeast 50th Avenue.

To permanently fix the issues plaguing Southeast 50th Avenue, city officials decided to completely remove the problematic trolley rails for good and reconstruct the entire section of roadway.

For more on the project, specifically with regard to its history, visit PortlandOregon.gov/transportation.

Click here for more on the city's Fixing Our Streets Program.

Images via Portland Bureau of Transportation