(PORTLAND, Ore.) – The City of Portland Bureau of Transportation on Monday will begin basic paving maintenance and safety improvements along NE Glisan Street between NE 60th Avenue and NE 82nd Avenue, a stretch that has been the focus of neighborhood concern after a string of crashes, including a January fatality.

The street improvements will include:

• Converting NE Glisan Street from 60th Avenue to 80th Avenue into a three-lane roadway. The street, now with four travel lanes, will be repaved and striped for a travel lane in each direction and a center turn lane.  
• Changing parking rules along NE Glisan Street to allow parking at all hours, instead of restricting parking to off-peak hours.
• Installation of an enhanced crossing improvement at NE Glisan Street and 78th Avenue, including a pedestrian refuge island and, in coming weeks, a pedestrian activated Rapid Flash Beacon.

The work will require lane closures from NE 67th Avenue to 80th Avenue from Monday, July 22  through Tuesday, Aug. 6 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The lane closures will apply only during weekdays.

One lane in each direction will remain open at all times.  Local access to residences and businesses will be provided.  The traveling public is advised to observe all lane closures, instructions from flaggers and use alternate routes if possible.

The safety improvements are expected to be fully operational in September. The improvements were developed in concert with the Montavilla Neighborhood Association, Portland Police, local businesses, churches and schools.

Since 2003, 301 people have been injured and two have died in crashes on NE Glisan Street between NE 60th and 82nd avenues. On July 10th, 2007, a pedestrian was struck and killed while attempting to cross NE Glisan at 64th Avenue. Most recently, on Jan. 29, 2013 a pedestrian was struck and killed while attempting to cross NE Glisan at 78th Avenue. That last incident led the City and community to develop the safety project.

More information may be found at the NE Glisan Safety Project web page http://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/62098

###