Corridor Talks Due

Two neighborhood associations are scheduled to appear before the Portland City Council Wednesday, seeking alterations in Oregon Highway Department plans for Interstate 505, the Fremont Bridge to St. Helens Road connection.

Morton PagIin, president of the WiIlamette Heights Neighborhood Association and a professor of economics at Portland State University, said his group is asking for a delay in council approval of the Highway Department route until an alternate can be evaluated by the City Planning Commission.

Paglin said a Highway Department analysis of the I-505 corridor which stretches roughly from NW Thurman to Vaughn streets and runs west some 20 blocks from the west end of the Fremont Bridge interchange with I-405, the Stadium Freeway shows that 68 percent of the traffic on the route will be destined for the area of the docks and close-in industrial area at Guild's Lake.

The second group, Northwest District Development Association, has accepted the Highway Department's corridor, Paglin said, but will argue for modification of the plans to include greenways and buffer housing.

Paglin said his group will present an alternate route, turning north about NW 21st Avenue, and following either NW Yeon or NW Front Avenue to the western connection with St. Helens Road.