A series of weekend-long closures of two northbound lanes of the Interstate 205 Bridge across the Columbia River will resume this evening as part of a $5.5 million project to replace aging steel joints embedded in the bridge deck.
The Oregon Department of Transportation, worried about congestion rippling through the Portland-area highway system, has curtailed the daytime weekend closures to every other weekend. This is one of those weekends.
The contractor will close one northbound lane starting at 7:30 this evening. Two of the four northbound lanes will be closed at 10 p.m., then reopen by 5 a.m. Monday.
Oregon highway officials warn motorists that the other Columbia River crossing between Portland and Vancouver may be closed periodically because of high river levels. The U.S. Coast Guard requires drawbridge operators to close Interstate 5 any time tall boats need to pass upriver or downriver.
Before traveling, check www.tripcheck.com or call 511 for the latest traffic conditions.
