MAX Blue Line service to be disrupted for 2 weeks starting Sunday

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- A potential slowdown for Portland MAX riders is ahead, as service on the Blue Line is set to be disrupted for two weeks starting Sunday.

According to TriMet, the disruption comes as a part of the East Burnside MAX Improvements Project, focusing on improving "the resiliency and reliability of the region’s oldest MAX line" east of the Gateway/NE 99th Avenue Transit Center.

TriMet says the construction will include replacing around 8,000 feet of contact wire -- the power source that feeds electricity to the trains -- as well as replacing the "heavily used" rail crossing at NW Eleven Mile Avenue.

Crews will also replace some track and rail ties and deep clean stations during the construction period, which will run until May 10.

As a result, shuttle buses will arrive every 10 minutes at closed stops to take riders to their destinations between the Gateway/NE 99th Ave Transit Center and the Cleveland Ave MAX Station.

But during the second week of the project, TriMet says the disruption will be shortened, with the shuttle buses only serving stations between E 172nd and Cleveland Ave.