Project Description: This project is a nine-month pilot project designed to reduce cut-through traffic in the Lair Hill area south of downtown, keeping regional car traffic on safer routes to head east on the Ross Island Bridge. The project will limit through traffic on a few narrow residential streets from Monday Dec. 16, 2019 through Sept. 1, 2020.

The changes were prompted by requests from residents along the affected streets, as well as the South Portland Neighborhood Association, (SPNA) for PBOT to help address congestion and unsafe driving behavior on SW Corbett and SW Kelly avenues. The traffic is especially heavy during evening rush-hour times, when people driving from Interstate 5, downtown Portland and areas south of downtown are driving to the bridge.

The following cut through routes will be closed by the project:

SW Kelly Ave, between SW Whitaker and SW Curry:

- Close northbound access

- Purpose: prevents commuter traffic from using SW Kelly to access the eastbound bridge ramp on SW Kelly.

Click here to see photo

SW Whitaker St, between SW Kelly and SW Corbett:

- Close eastbound access

- Purpose: prevents commuter traffic from using SW Corbett to access the eastbound bridge ramp on SW Kelly.

 Click here to see photo

SW Gibbs/ SW Naito Pkwy intersection:

- Close access to SW Naito Parkway

- Purpose: prevents commuter traffic from using either SW Kelly or SW Corbett to access the eastbound bridge ramp via SW Gibbs at SW Naito Parkway

Click here to see photo

Please click here to view a graphic of the proposed changes above

Test Implementation Year:  Winter 2019- Summer 2020

Current Phase: 

Project Update August 2020

With the uncertainties surrounding travel and COVID 19, ODOT has agreed to extend the End of Plan Development/ Public Review until March of 2021.  Evaluation data will be gathered in late 2020 or early 2021 for analysis, depending on how quickly traffic returns to normal.

Total Project Budget:  To be determined (< $10,000)

Project Map:

Project Manager Information:

Scott Batson:  Scott.Batson@portlandoregon.gov/ 503-823-5422