The venerable pair of bridges connecting Oregon and Washington undergo maintenance this weekend, Friday June 19th through Sunday June 21st. The 6.5 miles of cable that raise and lower the lifting spans have to be lubricated by hand. The sign says it all: expect long delays. From 10:00pm to 6:00am, the spans will go up and down like a yoyo. (The finishing time on the sign is wrong - the '9' is upside-down.)
Travelers who use the bridge routinely will want to consider using I-205 instead. At the very least, morning bridge users should stay away until 7:00am to allow the last of the backed-up traffic to clear.
Tri-Met’s #6 MLK bus will see delays in their late night and early morning runs. The bus merges onto I-5 to connect with its northernmost stop at Jantzen Beach. Expect delays all weekend in the evenings and mornings.
C-TRAN’s #4 Fourth Plain will suffer similar problems, but more so since the bus crosses the bridge twice to service Jantzen Beach and west Delta Park.
The bridge will become an impediment to traffic again the weekend of June 26th through the 28th.
Columbia River Crossing opponents take note: the Interstate Bridge has moving parts. These parts have to be inspected and maintained. During this process, I-5 here becomes a parking lot instead of a freeway. Thousands of idling cars and trucks waste hundreds of gallons of fuel waiting for the bridge to open. Consider that as you oppose the new bridge.
Comments
Good point on the gas guzzeling stops required by bridge lifts. Opposition says a new bridge wouldn't be "green", but they have nothing to back up their outlandish statements. The new bridge will save fuel, reduce emissions, and... well lets hear what the Willster has to say.
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