Naito Parkway reopens as demolition of Centennial Mills continues

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It's been a not-so-quiet week on the banks of the Willamette River.

First came the explosion that caused a water tower to fall on Monday.

Then the walls of the former Centennial Mills flour mill (mostly) came tumbling down on Tuesday, and rail traffic resumed nearby.

At the end of this eventful week, here is where things stand (or no longer stand) with that building, which burned in a four-alarm fire on Aug. 2.

The building's west wall is now about 10 feet in height, removing a collapse hazard. Naito Parkway was cleaned, and all utility infrastructure under Naito Parkway and connected to the Centennial Mills site is determined to be safe and undamaged. With these developments, the Portland Bureau of Transportation reopened the three travel lanes on Northwest Naito Parkway between 9th and 15th avenues this afternoon.

The east sidewalk, bike lane and parking lane remain closed, as drop boxes and other equipment needed to manage debris removal are placed there. Drivers should use extreme caution, as people biking in the area will share the travel lanes with motor vehicle traffic. The southbound bike lane on the west side of the street is reserved for two-way pedestrian travel. Substantial truck traffic is expected to be ongoing to and from the site as work continues.

The Fields Park remains closed until experts determine the area is safe from debris and other hazards.

The abatement contractor hired by the property owner, IRS Environmental, is completing the demolition of the building. Their team is working with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to identify and remediate any hazardous materials. These remediation efforts are expected to take at least another two weeks.

The Centennial Mills site remains under investigation by Portland Fire & Rescue, which is awaiting the completion of remediation activities before sending its inspectors back to the site. The Fire Investigations Team has not been able to access areas of possible human remains due to the rubble pile. When the area becomes accessible, Fire's K9 Human Remains Detection Team will return to guide this part of the investigation.

While there is no longer a collapse hazard and Naito Parkway is reopened, demolition activities are ongoing, and the site remains a dangerous place. Please stay away from the site for your own safety.

For ongoing updates and more information on staying safe, please visit Portland.gov/Centennial-Mills and follow the City's social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and X.