Drivers in Portland should brace for congestion this weekend as the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) embarks on an upgrade to its RealTime traffic system. ODOT has announced lane closures on southbound I-5, from the Ross Island Bridge to Terwilliger Boulevard, to install new RealTime Variable Advisory Speed (VAS) signs aimed at providing real-time traffic information.
These installations, while a step toward safer and more efficient travel, will require an around-the-clock right lane closure on I-5 southbound, starting at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 28, and lasting until 6 a.m. Monday, March 31. According to a bulletin released by ODOT, the closure will span SW Corbett Avenue to SW Terwilliger Boulevard. However, all ramps within the stretch will remain open during this time, though delays are to be expected.
The initiative is not limited to a single weekend affair. Future traffic impacts involve several intermittent nighttime lane closures. ODOT is preparing motorists for up to four weekend lane closures and an additional five overnight closures within the project area. Details on these events, as well as a project area map, can be found on the project website. Commuters are advised to plan accordingly and exercise caution while driving through work zones.
The upgrade project will also necessitate full closures of I-5 on up to five nights this summer, crucial for installing new sign bridges that span the highway. ODOT anticipates these closures will occur between midnight and 5 a.m., impacting several on-ramps and necessitating detours through Barbur Boulevard for neighborhood traffic. Regional detours will be routed using I-205 to I-84 or U.S. 26 to OR 217. Specific dates and more detailed information about upcoming traffic impacts will continue to be shared on the project website.
While the promise of real-time traffic updates is enticing, Portland's weekend warriors and nocturnal navigators will have to endure some temporary inconvenience. It's the price for progress on city streets and could potentially alleviate the long-standing tradition of traffic quagmires on I-5. For the time being, patience and a little planning go a long way for those looking to traverse the affected corridors.
