Bridge closure in Portland likely clogging Clark commute

An earlier closure of the Interstate 405 Fremont Bridge in Portland is likely causing the slow commute in Clark County this morning, according to Washington State Department of Transportation spokeswoman Abbi Russell.

WSDOT crews have been working since 4:30 a.m. pre-treating the roadways around Vancouver and Clark County and have not reported any icy conditions so far this morning, she said.

Vehicles spinning out from icy roads on the Fremont Bridge caused the Oregon Department of Transportation to close the roadway for about 45 minutes starting around 6 a.m.

The residual effects are still being felt in Vancouver, however. Interstate 5 is stop-and-go from the Interstate Bridge to Hazel Dell and Interstate 205 has slowing near state Highway 14.

“It’s a ripple effect,” Russell said. “The roads are mainly dry … It’s just an interconnected system.”

Trooper Will Finn said that a few crashes on the area interstates were all non-injury and not weather-related. There was one car that reportedly spun out at the state Highway 500 overpass of Interstate 5.

Finn advised motorists to be careful on overpasses, especially in the north part of the county which he said appear to be experiencing lower temperatures.