PORTLAND, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Transportation announced that northbound lanes of the Interstate Bridge will be closed Saturday night, Aug. 27.
On Saturday night, all northbound lanes will be closed from 11 p.m. until 7 a.m. Sunday.
ODOT said the closure is necessary for crews to perform deck patching, paving on I-5 and drawbridge maintenance. During the closure, motorists should expect delays and are encourage to find alternative routes.
The aging bridge is slated to be replaced, as experts say the it would most likely fall apart in the event of a major Cascadia subduction zone earthquake. Its first span was built in 1917 and its second in 1958 to divide northbound and southbound traffic.
In January 2022, people got their first look at possible designs for replacing the Interstate Bridge.
The new bridge would be built up to current seismic standards and would also include mass transit, according to the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program website.
The project is currently in the federal environmental review process, which will take about two years, according to program administrator Greg Johnson.
The cost of the multibillion dollar project is expected to be evenly split between Washington and Oregon.
If the project passes the review process, replacement bridge construction could start in late 2025.
