News Media Contacts:

Roberta Altstadt, TriMet, 503-962-5669, pio@trimet.org

Dylan Rivera, Portland Bureau of Transportation, 503-823-3723, dylan.rivera@portlandoregon.gov

Sgt. Pete Simpson, Portland Police Bureau, 503-823-0830, peter.simpson@portlandoregon.gov

VIDEO of Commissioner Novick warning the public about safety and speeding: http://bit.ly/12DYZQf

(Aug. 6, 2013) The Portland Police Bureau has announced the results of its increased enforcement of speeding and other traffic laws near SE Portland construction related road closures, to reduce the impact of road closures on neighborhood streets.

From July 15 to Aug. 5, police issued 316 citations near the closure of SE 8th, 11th and 12th avenues during construction of the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Transit Project. Police also issued 102 warnings, made four arrests for driving under the influence of intoxicants and made two other arrests.

“The City of Portland is serious about traffic safety around these Southeast Portland construction projects,” said City Commissioner Steve Novick, who oversees the Transportation Bureau. “I want to commend the Police Bureau for their responsiveness to community safety concerns and thank them for continued enforcement in Southeast this summer.”

The Police Bureau started targeted enforcement on Monday near the closure of SE Division Street, which will have 24-hour a day closures through Aug. 31.

Police are on the lookout for motorists who are distracted, impaired or aggressive, said Sgt. Robert Voepel of the Portland Police Bureau. Police advise motorists and pedestrians to make eye contact with other travelers.

The police enforcement is part of a collaboration among multiple city bureaus and public agencies to minimize the impact of several large-scale construction projects this summer in Southeast Portland.

TriMet, the Bureau of Environmental Services and the Portland Bureau of Transportation are working on projects to expand public transit access, update the streetscape design on SE Division Street and improve sewer service. To minimize the inconvenience to the public, the agencies have coordinated their construction schedules to try to ensure that major road closures on north-south corridors don’t overlap.

Travelers are advised to use alternative routes if possible. The public is advised to travel cautiously in the work zone and to observe detours and directions by flaggers.

Some of the largest transportation corridors in Southeast Portland have been closed around the clock for weeks at a time this summer.

• SE Cesar Chavez closed on June 28 and reopened on July 9 – 10 days early.

• Construction related to the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Transit Project closed Southeast 8th through 12th avenues from July 15 to Aug. 5. Those streets reopened Monday morning, except for SE 8th Avenue, which is expected to reopen on Wednesday.

• On Monday, sewer construction closed SE Division Street from SE 26th Avenue to SE 28th Place, expected to continue for 24 hours a day through Aug. 24. On Aug. 25, sewer construction will close SE Division between SE 34th and SE 37th avenues for 24 hours a day through Aug. 31.

View a map and details of SE Construction Projects and details at http://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/62715  

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