The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) advises the traveling public that installation of reflective, metal roadside delineators along NE Marine Drive will require crews to narrow the road from two lanes to one for a small section of the roadway, starting Tuesday, Feb. 11 through early March.
Each weekday for up to six weeks, crews will close a single lane of the two-lane road, for about 300 feet, to make a safe work zone. During that time, flaggers will direct traffic around the work zone, with eastbound and westbound travelers alternating use of a single lane. The work zone will be moved multiple times a day as crews work their way through an 8-mile stretch of NE Marine Drive, from NE 33rd Avenue near Portland International Airport to the city limits near NE 185th Avenue.
Travelers who frequently use Marine Drive during weekday hours are encouraged to expect delays or use alternate routes. Electronic message boards in the area will show major intersections where travelers may want to turn to avoid the lane closure.
The project is part of the City of Portland's Vision Zero effort to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries.
Marine Drive is a narrow, two-lane roadway built atop a levee that prevents Columbia River flooding. It is one of the most dangerous streets in Portland, one of 30 high crash corridors that account for the majority of traffic deaths in Portland over the years. From 2017 to 2021, Marine Drive had 16 traffic deaths -- more than any other corridor in the city.
Marine Drive has one of the highest rates of roadway departure crashes in Portland. With long distances between intersections and traffic signals, people driving often exceed the speed limit in the area. With narrow shoulders and a steep drop off because of the levee structure, vehicles that leave the roadway face a steep drop into the river or nearby natural areas or industrial land.
In 2023, there were five traffic deaths on Marine Drive, including three in the area of this project.
Metal roadside delineators are a simple and affordable way to help drivers see the roadway edge. They are a proven countermeasure for reducing roadway departure crashes, especially in areas like NE Marine Drive where there are wide open spaces and few buildings or other structures to call attention to the roadway width.
The public is advised to expect delays, travel cautiously, observe all lane closures, and directions by flaggers, and use alternate routes if possible.
Work is expected to begin as early as Feb. 11 and last five to six weeks. Work hours will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays.
Local access to residences and businesses will be provided.
This work is weather-dependent, and the schedule may change.
Source: Portland Bureau of Transportation