 News media contact:
Hannah Schafer
(971) 235-8472
hannah.schafer@portlandoregon.gov
News Blog:
PBOT Maintenance crews adapt during Covid-19 state of emergency
Bureau prioritizes employee safety and critical infrastructure repairs to ensure safe travel for all Portlanders
Crews take advantage of low traffic volumes on formerly-busy streets to make improvements
 Portland Bureau of Transportation street maintenance crews repave a section of NW 25th Avenue last week. Photo by PBOT.
(May 1, 2020) The COVID-19 pandemic has upended almost every aspect of life in Portland. This includes how Portlanders are getting from place to place. Just consider these few examples.
At PBOT, we are collecting this and other data in an effort to understand the full scale and scope of COVID-19's impact on transportation in Portland. We will be sharing this data through regular blog posts.
For our first installment, we’d like to focus on the work of our maintenance crews. In response to the public health emergency, we have introduced significant changes in our work. First, we have put measures in place to protect the health of our crews. These include modifying shifts and the number of crew members on a project to make social distancing possible. Second, we have focused our efforts on critical work to ensure that Portlanders can still travel safely to fulfill their essential needs. This includes maintaining critical assets such as traffic signals, conducting urgent repairs, and responding to emergency situations—including the recent landslide on West Burnside. Third, the decline in traffic has made it easier to conduct certain types of work. For example, it is easier to install infrastructure like crosswalks and complete paving projects on normally busy streets. We can get more work done with less impact on the surrounding neighbors and businesses.
 A failing section of street on NW 25th Avenue. PBOT crews are taking advantage of low traffic volumes on previously-busy streets to make repairs. Photo by PBOT.
From March 25 through April 14, PBOT maintenance crews have, among other efforts, completed the following work:
- Filled 600 potholes
- Collected 394 cubic yards (the equivalent of 32 large dump trucks) of debris from streets and medians; responded to 83 calls for emergency debris removal such as furniture, mattresses and trash; swept 670 miles of streets and 47 miles of bike lanes.
- Designed 29 ADA compliant curb ramps, poured 18 ramps and upgraded 30 crosswalks.
- Cleaned, replaced or re-secured 1,996 street signs.
- Responded to 46 sewer emergencies.
In addition to this work, crews also took advantage of the relative calm traffic situation to complete the following projects:
- Replaced failing concrete on N Denver Ave at McClellan.
- Replaced the bus pad on NW 23rd Ave at Thurman with concrete.
- Replaced concrete on SE Holgate at 52nd.
- Repaired multiple failing portions of NW 25th Ave from Lovejoy to Quimby.
- Paved SE Foster: 139th – 122nd.
- Paved W Burnside from NW 24th – Tichner as part of the response to the landslide at this site.
“I want to thank each and every Maintenance Operations worker—your continued service on essential PBOT projects is vital for our community, and I want to recognize that your designation as essential workers puts you and your families at greater risk during this public health crisis,” Said Transportation Commissioner Chloe Eudaly. “I encourage every Portlander to recognize the sacrifice that our Maintenance Operations workers are making and to follow PBOT’s guidance to keep our crews safe.”
 A newly repaired and repaved street segment on NW 25th Avenue. Photo by PBOT.
Portlanders can help make this work easier. We ask that you do the following to support our crews.
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Keep your distance. For the health and safety for everyone, please give our crews the space to complete their work while maintaining proper distance. We understand that as people are spending time at home, they are curious about what we’re doing in their neighborhoods. We have a few videos about the essential work that continues through the pandemic.
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SLOW DOWN. Speed is a major factor in crashes. If you must drive, follow the speed limit. Portland Police are still enforcing traffic laws to keep Portlanders safe.
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Use an alternate route. When you can, avoid streets with posted work zones.
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Obey all speed and warning signs. Work zone signs are for anyone traveling through – whether the person is walking, biking, rolling or driving. They are there for your safety and will help prevent a collision.
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Be alert. Put down your phone and pay attention to the road conditions ahead of you.
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Carefully move over. When possible give workers more room between them and your vehicle, but do not veer into an oncoming traffic lane.
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Keep your distance. Rear-end crashes are extremely common in work zones – maintain extra space between you and the person in front of you at all times.
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Stay clear of construction vehicles. Heavy vehicles travel in and out of the work areas and can make sudden moves. We know it’s interesting to see our machines at work, but please keep a safe distance from the work zone if you plan to watch.
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Expect delays and be kind. Our goal is to get you through our work zone safely, while also completing our street improvements in an efficient manner. We appreciate your understanding.
PBOT is committed to continuing to deliver essential projects while protecting the health and safety of our workers and our fellow Portlanders.
The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is the steward of the City’s transportation system, and a community partner in shaping a livable city. We plan, build, manage and maintain an effective and safe transportation system that provides access and mobility. www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation
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