Plan ahead for delays and alternate ways to get around
July 25, 2019
PORTLAND – All lanes of northbound Interstate 205 will be closed for paving Aug. 2-5 between Southeast Foster Road and Interstate 84.
The closure will begin at 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2 with all lanes open again by 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 5. This effort is part of the I-205 Paving, Auxiliary Lanes and ODOT RealTime Signs project from Johnson Creek Boulevard to the Glenn Jackson Bridge.
Three on-ramps that lead to I-205 northbound, Sunnyside/Sunnybrook Boulevard, Johnson Creek Boulevard and Glisan Street, will also close for the weekend starting at 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2.
Ways to get around the closure
Signed detours will direct travelers to OR 213 (SE 82nd Avenue) and SE 122nd Avenue. Travelers should expect congestion on the detour routes and plan ahead now for delays.
It is important for drivers to remain patient, drive in a safe manner. Remember to watch out for people who are walking, biking and rolling along these detour routes.
Consider leaving the car at home when getting around during the weekend closure.
Using transit is convenient and TriMet’s Green Line runs parallel to the I-205 closure. Visit Trimet.org to plan trips or contact TriMet’s Rider support team at 503-238-7433 (RIDE) or on Twitter via @trimethelp. If you do use TriMet, be aware that Sunday, Aug. 4 is the first day of the Lloyd MAX improvements projects.
Get There Oregon is an online tool that can help travelers plan trips with carpool matching, vanpool, transit and walking and biking options.
Weekend closure saves money and improves safety for workers
Closing I-205 northbound for a weekend is an efficient approach to paving as it saves time, money and improves safety for crews.
Without a weekend closure, we would need about 20 partial nighttime closures. A weekend closure eliminates about 17 days of paving work. We expect this generates more than half a million dollars in cost savings.
With a weekend closure, workers only set up the barrels and cones required to close the interstate once. This improves safety by reducing their exposure to high-speed freeway traffic and increases their chance of getting home safe to their families.
Upcoming closures
Installation of nearly 20 new sign structures to support ODOT RealTime Signs and other directional signs along the corridor will cause additional nighttime closures of one of both directions of I-205.
In August, installation of a new sign bridge requires up to several nights of full closures of the I-205 Glenn Jackson Bridge. Dates have not been selected for this work, which will take place between 11:59 p.m. and 5 a.m.
For travelers on I-205 north, all exits before the Glenn Jackson Bridge, including Airport Way, will be open. Northbound travelers bound for Washington should follow the signed detour using Interstate 84 and Interstate 5.
For travelers on I-205 south in Washington, exits prior to the Glenn Jackson Bridge will be open. Southbound travelers bound for Oregon should follow the signed detour using State Route 14 and Interstate 5.
The new sign bridge is 166 feet long and spans both directions of the freeway over Government Island. When installed, it will house ODOT RealTime advisory speed signs for northbound travelers and an updated destination sign for southbound travelers.
About this project
The last time this section of I-205 was paved was in 2004 and the surface is deteriorating and needs resurfacing. During the weekend closure, crews will finish paving the freeway where a new northbound auxiliary lane from Powell Boulevard to I-84 westbound will open later this year. In 2018, crews repaved much of the 9-mile section of I-205 in both direction from Johnson Creek Boulevard to the Glenn Jackson Bridge.
This project also includes construction of three new auxiliary lanes. We opened the southbound auxiliary lane between I-84 eastbound and the Division/Powell off-ramp in spring 2019. Two northbound auxiliary lanes, one from Powell Boulevard to I-84 westbound and one from I-84 eastbound to the Killingsworth Street off-ramp remain under construction and will open before the end of 2019.
For the closure date information, please check TripCheck.com, visit the project website and sign up for emails, or look for information on electronic signs on I-205 in advance of the closure.
For more information about the project, including maps and videos, and to sign up for project alerts, go to I205construction.org.
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