I-5 Bridge lifts to increase

Commuters, brace yourselves. The Columbia River is running high and that means the Interstate 5 Bridge will likely be lifting more often than normal for at least the next week.

High temperatures, heavy rains and high-elevation snowmelt throughout the Columbia River Basin have pushed some regional tributaries above flood stage and elevated the Columbia River throughout Southwest Washington. The Oregon Department of Transportation expects the river level to continue to rise by as much as three feet during the next week.

The Interstate 5 Bridge lifted six times Saturday to accommodate river traffic, and four times on Friday.

The average lift time is 15 to 20 minutes. More lifts mean more delays on I-5. Maritime law gives river traffic priority over highway traffic. That said, bridge lifts are prohibited during peak commuting hours, from 6:30 to 9 a.m. and again from 2:30 to 6 p.m. most weekdays.

According to ODOT, about 132,300 vehicles crossed the Interstate 5 Bridge on a daily basis in 2015.

As of Monday afternoon, the Columbia River at Vancouver was at 15.21 feet, .21 feet above action level, according to the National Weather Service. The river is expected to reach 15.96 feet Wednesday, .04 feet below minor flood stage.

Above 16 feet, some islands and low-lying areas, including parks and trails along the river, will flood.

In 1996, the river reached 24 feet, causing significant flooding in Portland and Southwest Washington.

Water managers with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division are adjusting the volume of water released from and stored behind regional dams throughout the Columbia River Basin to manage the increased flows. Currently, northeast Washington and northwest Montana are experiencing substantial flooding.