A crash downed power lines Wednesday and shut down OR 99W in both directions in Southwest Portland, leaving drivers stuck between Southwest Luradel Street and Southwest 53rd Avenue with no way through. No injuries from the crash had been reported as of the latest update. The closure falls near milepost 7.
The highway shutdown was reported by KGW, which said the crash knocked out power lines along the corridor, forcing closures in both the northbound and southbound lanes.
Drivers Told To Watch For Emergency Crews
Motorists heading through the area are being asked to slow down and watch for emergency responders working the scene, per the TripCheck advisory tied to Wednesday's crash. The road-condition service's blanket instruction to seek another route reflects how extensive the closure is, spanning the full width of OR 99W rather than a single lane or shoulder. As of the latest reporting, the article remains a developing story, and updates may follow as more details emerge.
How This Compares To Past OR 99W Shutdowns
Full closures of OR 99W are not unheard of in Oregon, though outcomes have varied widely. Back in September 2023, a crash just south of Monroe shut down both directions of the highway at milepost 103, with the Oregon Department of Transportation telling NBC16 that the closure could last several hours while traffic was diverted onto Schultz Road.
A more serious incident happened in September 2024, when a crash involving a semi-truck and two passenger vehicles near milepost 14 closed all lanes on Pacific Highway 99W near Sherwood. That crash, reported by KOIN, killed one person and seriously injured another near the wildlife refuge north of town, with all lanes reopened by 6:30 p.m. that evening.
No such outcome has been reported in Wednesday's Southwest Portland crash, where officials have said only that no injuries have so far been confirmed. The cause of the crash and how long the closure will last have not been detailed. Drivers in the area should expect delays and plan for alternate routes until OR 99W reopens.
