All three lanes of the northbound span of the Interstate 5 Bridge reopened early Saturday morning — a day ahead of schedule — following a weeklong closure to replace components of the bridge’s aging lift system.
However, the lift span on the northbound side remains temporarily closed to river traffic.
The northbound span of the twin bridges was closed to all traffic while crews replaced a cracked trunnion and other lift system components on the bridge’s south tower. Both freeway directions shared the three-lane southbound span in the interim.
On Saturday, crews also reopened four nearby I-5 ramps that had been closed since Sept. 20, as well as the northbound I-5 offramp to Vancouver City Center.
“We owe a big thanks to the traveling public for their patience, understanding and willingness to modify their travel habits during this closure of the northbound span,” Rian Windsheimer, ODOT regional manager for the Portland area, said in a new release. “While the most impactful phase is now behind us, we’re not done yet. You’re going to see further lane closures and bridge lifts in the coming weeks as we complete work on both spans.”
The left lane of southbound I-5 over the bridge will be closed for a week while crews reconnect the median barrier and wrap up the project.
Travelers should expect to see occasional nighttime lane closures on I-5, up to 30-minute bridge lifts on the northbound span and nighttime ramp closures between Marine Drive in Portland and state Highway 14 in Vancouver.
The sidewalk on the northbound span may stay closed until Oct. 4. Bicyclists and pedestrians crossing the bridge in both directions will share the southbound span sidewalk.
