Interstate Corridor:
Killingsworth Street Improvement Project

Construction between Interstate and Michigan, and Borthwick to Commercial, were substantially completed in mid-June 2008.  The section of Killingsworth Street across I-5 was awarded a $200,000 grant through ODOT’s I-5 Delta Park Community Enhancement Grant Program.  Construction on this I-5 overcrossing is expected to begin late summer 2008.

The Killingsworth Street Improvements Planning Project (final report) reflects the community's vision for a vibrant, mixed-use Killingsworth Main Street that encourages pedestrian activity and transit patronage and which supports local businesses and residents. The improved pedestrian environment will strengthen the connection between Killingsworth Street, the Interstate MAX, the surrounding community, and major destinations such as Portland Community College (PCC), Cascade Campus.

The Killingsworth Street Improvements Planning Project is a result of active community involvement. The Plan was adopted unanimously by City Council in August 2003.

Implementation of the plan began in 2004 through a partnership of Portland Development Commission (PDC) and City of Portland Office of Transportation (PDOT). Implementation of the improvements is being done in phases. (For more information about the project, go to PDOT's website.)

Phase I of the improvements emphasizes the connection of the main street and campus areas to the new Yellow Line MAX station at Interstate, and will complete the improvements between the station and N. Commercial Avenue Some improvements, like the new sidewalks that are part of PCC's Cascade Campus expansion, were completed as part of private redevelopment.

Phase I is being built in two parts. Phase IA between Michigan and Borthwick was completed in December 2005. Phase IB, between Interstate and Michigan, plus Borthwick to Commercial, was substantially completed in mid-June 2008.  The section of Killingsworth Street across I-5 was added to Phase IB when the project was awarded a $200,000 grant through ODOT’s I-5 Delta Park Community Enhancement Grant Program.  Construction on the  I-5 overcrossing is expected to begin late summer 2008.  Phase I improvements have been primarily funded by PDC through the Interstate Corridor Urban Renewal Area with additional construction funds from PDOT for Phase 1A and from ODOT for the I-5 overcrossing work.

Phase II includes the area from N. Commercial to NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd, plus pedestrian improvements to the Killingsworth bridge over I-5. Currently there is no funding for the construction of Phase II, but federal funds are slated to do the engineering and design in 2009.

Phase III is a promenade for N. Kerby Avenue in the block adjacent to Jefferson High School, which is unfunded at this time.

• ICURA Transportation Implementation Study
• Killingsworth Street Improvements Planning Project (report, PDOT website)
• Press Release
• Project information (PDOT website)

  PDC contact

• Susan Kuhn, PDC Project Coordinator/ICURA
  503-823-3406

  PDOT contact

• Winston Sandino, PDOT Project Manager