Drivers beware: I-5 to be closed though SW Portland June 28-July 1

Drivers need to be prepared for all lanes of a four mile stretch of I-5 through Southwest Portland to be closed from 9 a.m. Friday, June 28, to 5 a.m. Monday, July 1.

The closures are necessary for the Oregon Department of Transportation to replace the I-5 bridge over Southwest 26th Avenue, a project that has been underway for over a year. They are needed to replace the deck of the bridge after the supporting structure has been improved.

“ODOT worked with the contractors to determine the dates of the closure to coordinate that most of the I-5 work can be completed during this one weekend closure. This allows us to reduce impact to drivers by giving several months of advance notice of the closure. The closure allows crews to safely complete most of the work to remove the top of the existing bridge and add new asphalt paving,” ODOT said of the upcoming closure.

During the closure, southbound I-5 will be shut down from the Southwest Capitol Highway on-ramp to the Southwest Terwilliger Exit Ramp. Northbound I-5 will be closed from the Southwest Barbur Boulevard exit ramp to the Southwest Terwilliger entrance ramp.

ODOT recommends that I-5 drivers should divert to Interstate 205, Interstate 84, OR 217 or U.S. 26. Local traffic can use Southwest Barbur Boulevard, which will increase neighborhood congestion.

More information can be found at oregon.gov/odot .