BackgroundDuring the past few months, representatives from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) have been working with freight companies to prepare for the Interstate Bridge Repair Project. The bridge closure is scheduled to begin on September 16 and last for 21 days. A recurring issue from freight and drayage companies has been access to I-5 from the North Portland industrial areas. The Marine Drive northbound on-ramp will be closed for the duration of the bridge closure, making access to I-5 difficult during the closure.
Freight Access Changes to I-5In response to these concerns, ODOT has worked with the City of Portland transportation department to include a new element in the Traffic Management Plan (TMP) for the bridge project.
During the bridge closure ODOT and the City will designate two on-ramp lanes at Denver Avenue (Delta Park), northbound as freight and transit lanes. This ramp, which is normally one lane will be temporarily re-striped for the bridge closure. The intent is to offer an alternative route to improve I-5 access to trucks who MUST use I-5.
Access Changes During the ProjectODOT and the City are concerned the increased use of the Denver Avenue on-ramp by freight during the closure will cause traffic congestion in the vicinity of the crossover to the southbound structure. The Denver Avenue on-ramp is virtually the last access to I-5 before the bridge. This is where congestion will be at its worst.
ODOT will closely monitor this ramp during the project. If the on-ramp causes significant traffic and safety impacts, ODOT will return the ramp to its original configuration.
Preferred RoutesFreight traffic is asked to use the I-205 corridor. ODOT and the City request that trucks use Columbia and Lombard to access I-205 from north Portland. Signals will be re-timed on these routes to allow more efficient east-west flow. The City will have crews present to monitor the flow of the east-west connectors to ensure traffic moves as smoothly as possible. Additionally, ODOT if offering a weight-mile tax exemption for trucks who are on record as regular users of the Interstate Bridge and voluntarily detour to alternate routes. The exemption covers the additional miles traveled.
Night ClosuresThere will be intermittent lane and bridge closures at night, prior to and after September 16 to allow for preparation and final work to the bridge. Bridge closures will last between 5 and 20 minutes.
For Futher InformationFor general information on the Interstate Bridge repair project, call 1-800-722-6557.
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