(Aug. 8, 2013) –  The Portland Bureau of Transportation reopened two lanes of travel along Martin Luther King Boulevard at midday Thursday and will keep the remaining two lanes closed through at least Friday morning in the aftermath of a five-alarm fire that gutted a construction site early Thursday morning.

The reopened lanes on the eastside of MLK Boulevard allow one lane of travel in each direction from south of NE Cook to NE Stanton Street.  Left turns will not be allowed in either direction from the restricted lanes.

In addition, the single block of Monroe Street adjacent to the fire-damaged construction site at MLK Boulevard also will remain closed.

That traffic pattern will continue through at least Friday morning or until the Portland Fire Bureau authorizes a reopening.

Commuters and other travelers should expect delays, exercise patience and are advised to use NE Seventh Avenue or North Williams and North Vancouver as alternate routes.

 ###

More information on the fire from Mayor Charlie Hales