Expect busy roads in the Portland area this Labor Day weekend

Contact: Don Hamilton, 503-704-7452

Sept. 2. 2020

PORTLAND – If you’re traveling over the Labor Day weekend make sure to bring plenty of patience and extra time for your trip.

With warm, sunny days in the holiday forecast travelers will be out on the road around Oregon heading for the Columbia River Gorge, the Oregon Coast and many other destinations. The Gorge may be a particularly appealing destination with Multnomah Falls open again – albeit with limited access – for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic struck.

This weekend, travelers should expect heavy and slow traffic, especially at the beginning and end of the weekend. Travelers should look for slow traffic in the small towns and cities on the Coast, in the Gorge and pretty much everywhere else in the Portland area.

Some tips to consider before and during your trip:

• Plan your route in advance and stay socially distant whenever possible to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
• Make sure that you and your passengers have several face coverings. Many businesses around the state require masks for entry to inhibit the spread of COVID-19.
• Carry plenty of hand sanitizer, toilet paper and other sanitation items.
• Motorists need to keep a special eye out for bicyclists, who are expected to be out in big numbers over the three-day weekend.
• Don’t use backroads or logging roads to get around traffic congestion; these roads are typically unimproved and present a number of potential hazards.
• There are many parking/illegal camping restrictions on beach highways and county roads; please obey the signs that are there for your safety; in addition, law enforcement can cite you for parking illegally.
• Protect our health and the environment by disposing of your garbage appropriately.
• Obey the speed limit; we are seeing a lot of excessive speeds and high speed crashes.

Drive sober and don’t drive distracted; drivers should leave the cell phone to someone else.