A major improvements project to the MAX Blue Line in Gresham is less than a week away.
Once completed, it will represent one of the most diverse collections of upgrades TriMet has performed during a two-week period.
From Sunday, Sept. 22, through Saturday, Oct. 5, crews will be working on a series of upgrades across a 2.3-mile stretch of tracks at the east end of the MAX Blue Line.
As crews work, the Blue Line will end and begin service at the Rockwood/E 188th Ave Station, with shuttle buses serving the five final stations at the end of the line.
Overall, the project is made up of several improvements – upgrades, repairs and replacements that extend from several feet below ground to nearly 20 feet up in the air. Some of the work will happen at rail crossings, areas where tracks cross (or intersect) roads. Our riders — as well as motorists, pedestrians and cyclists — will end up feeling the difference. While the rides will be smoother, the work helps improve the reliability of MAX trains heading through the stretch, which then keeps trains running on schedule throughout the light rail system.
Crews will be making repairs and improvements to seven rail crossings along the MAX Blue Line as part of the Gresham MAX Improvements project. Construction will result in intermittent closures of six roads that intersect with the tracks. The seventh road, Northwest Birdsdale Avenue, will have a single lane closure, with flaggers directing motorists in both directions through the worksite.
Crews will work on one to two crossings at a time. Detour signs will direct motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians through the construction zones.
At most of the crossings, the work is expected to close the roads for two days each. Once crews finish one intersection, they’ll move on to the next. Crossings that are next to each other will not be closed at the same time to minimize the impacts on motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.
Traffic Impacts
Weekend closure: (Work may take place 24 hours a day)
NW Eastman Parkway - Closed 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27 — 4 a.m. Monday, Sept. 30
Weekday closures: (Work will take place between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
N Main Avenue - Closed 4 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 26 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27
NE Roberts Avenue - Closed 4 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3 (tentative)
NE Hood Avenue - Closed 4 a.m. Monday, Sept. 30 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1 (tentative)
NE Kelly Avenue - Closed 4 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26
NE Cleveland Avenue - Cleveland closed 4 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2 (tentative)