Travelers heading into Portland's city center were met with gridlock on Saturday afternoon, as pro-Palestine protesters took to the I-405 southbound, forcing the closure of the interstate. Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) reported that the protest began at approximately 2:51 p.m., with demonstrators blocking the highway near the Everett Street exit, as documented by road cameras and social media posts. Commuters found themselves at a standstill with delays extending from the protest site, back to the south end of the Fremont Bridge, impacting traffic on nearby I-5 South as well as Rosa Parks Way, according to KPTV.
The substantial disruption affected hundreds of drivers, with protests spilling into nearly all southbound lanes and lasting for several hours. Frustrations among motorists rose, with one driver lamenting the timing of the demonstration, "They [are] wasting people[‘s] time. They could do that another time," the individual expressed in a statement obtained by KATU News. Another driver emphasized the inconvenience, stating, "There is literally one lane open. I don't mind protesting, but blocking traffic is not okay."
As the demonstration continued, ODOT urged drivers to seek alternative routes. The heavy congestion was not only a nuisance, but it also highlighted the sometimes contentious intersection between the right to protest and the daily routines of the city's inhabitants. The closure impacted key intersections, including I-405's conjunction with U.S. Highway 26, as per KGW.
Despite the inconvenience caused to drivers on what appeared to be an ordinary Saturday, the lanes were eventually reopened. ODOT confirmed that by 4:30 p.m. traffic was moving once again after the protest had blocked the roadway for upwards of 90 minutes, as reported by KPTV.
