City Addresses Record Crowds By Expanding Peacock Lane Into Freeway

The festively decorated houses on Southeast Portland’s Peacock Lane attract tens of thousands of visitors every holiday season. The past few years have seen crowds swell at the beloved local Christmas attraction, thanks to social media and families with tight budget]s looking to do free activities. This year, with the help of the Portland Bureau of Transportation in partnership with the Oregon Department of Transportation, adjustments have been made to help with crowd control.

“We are elated to announce that our project is complete and the new expressway is open to cars just in time for the holidays,” said ODOT Deputy Manager of Freeways Sohla Beaupan. “Our massive five lane expansion will be able to adequately handle the vehicle traffic through the area, where more drivers can appreciate the beautifully adorned houses from the comfort of their automobiles.”

The new construction is not appealing to all Portlanders, with some calling the project unnecessary. “This is just government bloat. We don’t need more room for cars, we need more room for more people,” scoffed Mount Tabor Resident Reginald Plumberton. “If they really cared about the city they would make more bike lanes and wide sidewalks and close off the neighborhood to cars. They could increase TriMet service or have a shuttle. A freeway in this family neighborhood that only has Christmas decorations for one month a year is heinous.”