St. Johns Street Improvement Project Begins

Photo: Brad Newgard

The decades of potholes caused by buried streetcar tracks on N Lombard Street in St. Johns will soon come to an end, when the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) starts construction on the N Lombard Main Street Repair Project through the heart of Portland’s northern business district.

The $5M project will remove the antique rail lines buried beneath N Lombard Street and repair and replace the pavement between St. Louis and Richmond avenues. New ADA compliant curb ramps and marked crossings will be installed at every intersection and new bus stop extensions will reduce delays for TriMet bus riders on Lines 4, 16, 44, and 75, which serve over 21,000 riders daily. Combined, these changes will enhance the bustling main street and create a welcoming and accessible multimodal environment to help people get to Lombard easily, reliably, and efficiently.

Construction on N Lombard will begin the week of Sept. 27 and continue until Nov. 17, before pausing active construction work during the Holiday Construction Moratorium. Construction will resume in early January and is estimated to be complete in fall 2022, weather permitting. Work during the first phase of construction will be focused primarily on utility relocation and stormwater maintenance work. At the same time, curb ramp work will begin on the north side of N Lombard near N Richmond Ave and gradually move west toward N New York Ave. Temporary asphalt will be installed at the demolished corners to provide a safe, accessible walking surface until the final ramps are built.

TriMet is partnering with the City of Portland to improve safety and accessibility in St. Johns through the N Lombard Main Street Repair project. In the spring of 2022, TriMet will be reaching out to neighbors with details about temporary bus route changes expected to begin in April of 2022.

We ask the public to travel cautiously, observe all lane detours and directions by temporary traffic signals and flaggers, and use alternate routes if possible. PBOT greatly appreciates the patience and understanding of nearby residents and businesses. Learn what you can expect in our work zones and how you can help everyone stay safe by watching this video: https://youtu.be/lx3RkJjkjSE

Funding for the North Lombard Main Street Repair Project is provided by the Build Portland investment program, which is investing $3M in the Lombard pavement reconstruction. An additional $2M for safe crossing, curb extensions, and upgraded bus stops is provided by PBOT through transportation system development charges, funds from House Bill 2017, and the Fixing Our Streets Heavy Vehicle Use Tax.

Learn more about the North Lombard Main Street Repair Project and sign up for email updates at https://www.portland.gov/transportation/pbot-projects/construction/n-lombard-main-street-repair-project


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