NE 137th Avenue Corridor Completion
We are working on a project to upgrade Northeast 137th Avenue, from Northeast 49th Street up to Fourth Plain Boulevard, by improving the roadway to current urban standards, including pedestrian and bicycle facilities. Construction started in June 2024 on this major corridor improvement project. The entire project is about 45% complete and is expected to finish in early 2026.
Construction information
June 2024 to April 2025
Northeast 137th Avenue, from Northeast 52nd Street to just south Northeast 61st Street, is closed during construction work in this area of the Burnt Bridge Creek starting. Access to Norhteast 52nd Street will be maintained for vehicles coming from or going to Norhteast 49th Street. This full closure is necessary for crews to safely remove unsuitable soils from underneath the roadway, stabilize the new street and install a steel plate arched culvert over the Burnt Bridge Creek. This closure will last for about 10 months, anticipated into April 2025. Businesses north of the closure are open.
April 2025
Northeast 137th Avenue, between Northeast 52nd and Northeast 61st streets, will change from a full closure to a closure with local access available in late April. During this time, construction will extend north to Northeast Fourth Plain Boulevard and south to Northeast 49th Street. Expect lane closures and possible temporary road closures.
The south section between Northeast 49th Street and Northeast 52nd Street will be closed as crews construct the roundabout at Northeast 52nd Street.
The full closure has allowed us to clear the area, stabilize the corridor by removing peat and replacing it with stable materials, build a steel culvert over Burnt Bridge Creek, construct retaining walls, install curbs, relocate private utility facilities and install sanitary sewer, water, and stormwater structures and piping. To provide a hard surface for traffic, the bottom layer of pavement will be in place before switching the corridor to local access only.
The entire project is about 45% complete and is projected to finish in early 2026.
Project details
Improvements are widening the existing vehicle travel lanes to keep one lane in each direction and add a center turn lane north of Northeast 59th Street to Fourth Plain Boulevard. The finished project will also include sidewalks, bike/mobility paths, roundabouts, utility upgrades, street lighting, traffic signal modifications at Fourth Plain and landscaping along the new corridor.
New street elements
- Restriping existing Northeast 49th Street roundabout from a two-lane to a one-lane roundabout
- New roundabout at Northeast 52nd Street
- New roundabout at Northeast 54th Street
- New roundabout at the southern Northeast 59th Street to realign this offset intersection
Overall, this project will improve safety, increase mobility and enhance connectivity along the corridor. Project completion, including street paving, is currently anticipated in early 2026. These enhancements will improve our community’s transportation system with the completion of this corridor work.
Project background
Planning for this project included determining whether to use traffic signals or roundabouts, resolving questions about rights of way and stormwater drainage, completing an environmental evaluation, designing a crossing of Burnt Bridge Creek, and selecting pedestrian and bicycle facilities, as well as coordinating with utility companies and local, state and federal agencies.
Improvements to this street are needed to enhance safety, manage access to the fronting properties and minimize delay now caused by turning vehicles. The completion of this corridor is important for the many users of this highly traveled north/south corridor. Improving the segment from 49th Street to Fourth Plain segment is the last piece needed to complete the corridor.
Public input
The City provided information through communications with area neighborhood associations, and the public has participated and given input through stakeholder interviews, sounding boards and two open houses.
