Two construction projects could combine into a traffic nightmare for Portland-bound commuters who don’t plan ahead for about the next two weeks.
The Oregon Department of Transportation has announced the westbound Interstate 84 ramp to northbound Interstate 5 will be closed for the next 12 days. The closure, scheduled to begin at 10 tonight, is expected to last until 5 a.m. Aug. 6. Beginning 5 a.m. on Friday, only the I-84 westbound left lane will be open at the I-5 interchange, with all traffic exiting to southbound I-5.
“This could be a tremendously disruptive closure,” said Oregon Department of Transportation spokesman Don Hamilton. “We’re fearing major traffic backups on westbound I-84 Thursday morning … there could be delays on southbound I-205 and northbound I-205 both getting onto I-84 westbound into downtown Portland.”
It is the second of three construction-related ramp closures that could cause significant delays, the agency said in a news release.
ODOT estimates it could take as long as three hours to travel between I-205 and I-5 along I-84. To make the situation worse, traffic is anticipated to spill off the highway and into surface streets as drivers search for quicker routes.
ODOT made similar announcements about the first ramp closure that ran from July 8 through Monday. C-Tran also anticipated and warned its passengers of “major gridlock” when ODOT closed the ramp that connects I-5 southbound to I-84 eastbound.
However, C-Tran spokeswoman Christine Selk said conditions were not nearly as bad as anticipated and the agency didn’t have to rely on the extra buses it had lined up to accommodate the delays.
Hamilton also said the congestion was underwhelming, likely thanks to smart travelers.
“It certainly was not as bad as we had feared,” he said. “We worried about extensive delays over the I-5 Bridge, but many people seemed to be aware of these delays and took alternative steps that seemed to help the problem.”
Still, ODOT believes this second closure will be worse than the first due to the volume of travelers needing access to downtown.
The summer’s third ramp closure will begin 10 p.m. Aug. 17 when the westbound I-84 ramp to southbound I-5 will close. The ramp will re-open by 5 a.m. Aug. 27.
Also, northbound I-5 will be closed at I-84 Friday night through Monday morning over the next two weekends. The roadway is being closed for paving. While the closure is in place, all northbound traffic that would normally go over the Marquam Bridge will exit the freeway at I-84. Drivers who normally take I-5 northbound should use Interstate 405 over the Fremont Bridge back to I-5.
The closures will happen beginning at 10 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday and once again at 10 p.m. Aug. 3 until 5 a.m. Aug. 6.
Four onramps to northbound I-5 will also be shut down at the same time, the westbound Morrison Bridge onramp; eastbound Morrison Bridge onramp; North Williams Avenue onramp, near North Broadway; Southwest Fifth Avenue onramp to I-405.
The pavement project is happening at the same time as the closure of the westbound I-84 ramp to northbound I-5. That will open once again at 5 a.m. Aug. 6.
Officials ODOT say doing the construction at the same time reduces the number of full ramp closures on I-84 travelers would have to endure.
The agency is urging commuters to avoid unnecessary trips or work with their employers to find schedule accommodations.
“We suggest that people take transit, bike or walk — if they can — work with their bosses to adjust schedules or work from home,” Hamilton said. “Not everybody can, but the more who do, the better the congestion might be.”
