Wiberg Lane is a charming street that crawls up the ridge, connecting NE 47th, Wisteria, and Alameda. Wiberg Lane is dotted with just 10 houses, all of varying style built in the first part of the 20th century. It’s home both to families who have lived here for decades, as well as to others just settling in—a beautiful microcosm of Northeast Portland. But the increasing roar of traffic is cause for concern.
Because of its location, Wiberg Lane is currently a channel for traffic traveling in both directions, as well as commuter bicyclists and resident pedestrians. Commercial trucks charge up and down, disregarding the “No Trucks” sign as well as the posted speed limit. All of these travelers share the same narrow lane with residential parking on both sides of the street.
The roadway on Wiberg Lane is not well maintained by the city—pavement rough and uneven with potholes dotting the lane—posing a challenge to cyclists and unfamiliar drivers in the best of conditions, not to mention treacherous winter conditions with snow and ice.
Despite the design, limitations, and poor street condition, a January 2018 Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) car count logged 2,200 cars a day. The street was not engineered for this volume of traffic. In talking with Wiberg Lane residents, everyone seems to have a story of a near-miss, a scary accident, or a car that’s wound up on their front lawn.
We must take action before tragedy strikes.
Wiberg Lane residents continue to gather ideas and are in active discussion with PBOT and BWNA concerning potential mitigation measures. If you would like to become involved in this effort, e-mail Dennis Hanley (hanley.dennis@gmail.com).