Maintenance work on the Interstate 5 Bridge will cause intermittent closures and delays for two nights this weekend, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation.
The closures will allow crews to grease 5 miles of bridge cables on the twin spans, according to ODOT. Bridge lifts on both the northbound and southbound sides of I-5 will be begin at 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. There could be as many as 20 lifts each night, lasting as long as 25 minutes each, according to ODOT. Work is expected to conclude by 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Greasing the cables is the second step in a two-part process to treat them. In August, crews applied oil designed to strengthen the cables. The grease applied this weekend will protect the cables’ outer shell, ODOT said.
Motorists traveling between Vancouver and Portland can use Interstate 205 via state Highway 14 in Washington or Interstate 84 in Oregon as a detour.
