PORTLAND, Ore. -- As we get closer to the summer construction season, be prepared for some big safety improvements to hit West Burnside in Portland.
More crosswalks, more bike lanes, more street lights and newly planted trees are coming. But the construction also means fewer lanes for cars and probably more congestion.
The Portland Bureau of Transportation says West Burnside between 15th and 20th avenues is dangerous for pedestrians. As part of the city's Vision Zero plan to end all traffic fatalities, city commissioners recently approved spending $2 million out of the general fund to make Burnside safer this summer.
There are not many lighted crosswalks in this section. We watched people dart out in front of cars, and many others look both ways before jaywalking across four lanes of traffic.
At the intersection between 18th and 19th avenues, you will see the biggest changes. A TriMet bus stop median will be extended to almost the length of a city block with new, marked crosswalks on both ends.
"It's a very unpleasant street for sure, but if I didn't need to walk across the street to get to Chipotle then I wouldn't do it," laughed Tom Turnbull, who works in the area. So does Maureen Nelson who likes this new construction plan.
"I think it's an awesome idea especially with the bus right there because I take the bus as well and you deal with a lot of people who are handicapped or slower or with disabilities on the bus and Burnside is made for people to barrel down to get where they need to go, it's not made for people to cross the street."
Bike lanes with the green markings will be added to 18th, 19th and Southwest Alder Street, taking away an entire lane of traffic on all three streets. That portion of the project was not so popular with some on Twitter.
One person writing sarcastically, "Losing a lot of travel lanes in the years when people are moving here in droves makes so much sense, good job everybody!"
Another said: "Much needed. That intersection is a nightmare to navigate"
And this person asked: "Safety improvements are a great thing but has PBOT done any comprehensive analysis and forecast of impacts of the incremental loss of travel lanes over the years?"
PBOT was unable to meet with KGW for an interview on Monday.
Construction will start in the next couple of months.