Crews install a new brick-and-sand flexible paver system
at SW 5th and Oak.
The innovative design will improve
durability and reduce
maintenance costs.
Have you seen the new intersections on 5th Avenue at Ankeny, Pine and Oak? Crews are replacing the Mall's aging brick pavers with an innovative brick-and-sand system to improve durability and reduce maintenance costs.
When the Portland Mall was first built, bricks were glued to the surface below. Over time, the rigid pavers cracked under the weight of buses, allowing water to seep in and cause erosion. Broken pavers were difficult and expensive to repair.
The new bricks are carefully set into a base of special sand. This flexible system is simpler and more cost-effective to maintain because a single damaged brick can be lifted out and replaced. (And if one brick cracks, the damage won't spread.)
We selected stronger bricks to withstand heavy use for decades. Plus, the surface is smoother and less likely to become slippery when wet, making it safer and easier for pedestrians and people using mobility devices.
Want to see the crews in action? Brick intersections are under construction throughout 5th and 6th avenues.
© 2008 Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) • Terms
of Use | Privacy
Policy | Linking to portlandmall.org
portlandmall.org is
managed by TriMet in partnership with
the Downtown Marketing Initiative.
The I-205/Portland Mall Light Rail Project is a partnership of:
