Photo: Photo provided by Central Eastside Industrial Council. Photo by @dustinpattison_photography

After years of advocacy, collaboration, and direct business feedback, the Central Eastside Industrial Council (CEIC) its Enhanced Service District Central Eastside Together (CET), and the City of Portland’s Public Environment Management Office have completed a major lighting initiative beneath several viaducts in Portland’s Central Eastside to transform once-dark underpasses into brighter gateways for businesses, workers, and visitors.

The Viaduct Lighting Project began with a clear message from district employers: the Burnside, Morrison, and Hawthorne bridge viaducts were priority areas for improved safety and visibility. Business retention conversations and member surveys consistently identified under-bridge conditions as a barrier to pedestrian comfort and evening activity.

“This project is the result of years of business advocacy,” said Carolyne Holcomb, Executive Director of CEIC. “Through close collaboration and hands-on problem solving between our team and the City’s Public Environment Management Office, we turned community feedback into action. Through persistence, creativity, and coordination we’ve created brighter, safer, and more welcoming public spaces.”

In 2023, with the support of City staff, the CEIC formally requested $232,000 from Multnomah County to implement a coordinated viaduct lighting initiative. The request was approved as part of the County’s budget work plan, launching an intergovernmental agreement between Multnomah County and the City of Portland. Since then, CEIC and CET have worked alongside the Public Environment Management Office (PEMO) to assess bridge conditions, coordinate design, and illuminate key corridors throughout the district.

“Safe streets and a welcoming environment are essential to the economic vitality of any business district,” said Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson. “Multnomah County’s investment is a great example of partnership between government and local business in responding to the needs of our community. We are all excited to contribute towards renewed vibrancy and a brighter future for Portland’s Central Eastside.”

The project illuminates the Avenue of Murals, a celebrated public art corridor that activates industrial walls and underpasses with large-scale works by local artists, as well as the world-renowned Burnside Skatepark, one of the most famous DIY skateparks in the world, located beneath the east end of the Burnside Bridge.

“The Public Environment Management Office is a critical steward of our community – resolving problems and improving livability across Portland,” said Mayor of Portland Keith Wilson. “The lighting initiative supplements the 300 trees along 100 blocks of the Central Eastside already illuminated with pedestrian safety tree lighting. Continuation and reinvestment into these programs are important to improving and maintaining our neighborhoods.”

Businesses report that the improved lighting enhances safety and visibility while highlighting corridors where retail, manufacturing, and creative businesses operate side by side.

“As a long-time retailer in Portland's Central City, we know how important first impressions are for visitors,” said Bridgid Blackburn, Co-Owner of Cargo. “After years of working to find solutions to light the underside of our viaducts, we applaud the collaboration with the County and the City. Portland’s short winter days have been transformed by this project. We’ve seen a noticeable increase in foot traffic—especially in the evenings.”

The skate community has also welcomed the improvements.

“By definition, the underside of bridges can feel uninviting,” said Chad Balcom of Skaters for Portland Skateparks. “The lighting initiative has made the Burnside Skatepark a more comfortable and welcoming public space.”

Developers and property owners agree that the project sends a strong signal about investment in the district’s future.

“We greatly appreciate the support from Multnomah County for the improved lighting,” said Matt Schweitzer, President of North Rim Development. “The Viaduct Lighting Initiative has made the area significantly brighter and more inviting for visitors and businesses alike.”

The result is a visible investment in safety, economic vitality, and public space, reinforcing the Central Eastside as a place where industry, culture, and community thrive side by side.

Source: Central Eastside Industrial Council

Teri Ann