Two southbound lanes of the Interstate 5 Bridge were blocked for about 1½ hours late Wednesday afternoon for a police pursuit that ended on the bridge. The closure caused traffic headaches throughout the Vancouver area during the evening commute.
Police initially blocked all southbound lanes at 4:07 p.m. However, the right lane reopened about 15 minutes later, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation. The left and center lanes reopened around 5:30 p.m.
Traffic was diverted during the closure, and backed up on state Highway 14 and throughout downtown Vancouver. Washington State Patrol troopers assisted with traffic control, spokesman Will Finn said on Twitter.
By the time all lanes reopened, traffic on southbound I-5 was backed up to Hazel Dell, and southbound traffic on Interstate 205 was backed up as far north as the I-5 interchange in Salmon Creek. Traffic on westbound state Highway 500 was backed up to the 39th Street Exit.
