The first significant rainfall after several weeks of dry weather can cause slick conditions on the roads. Use caution when commuting Tuesday morning and allow plenty of stopping distance. Two early crashes delayed commuters on Interstate 84. They have since been cleared. More recent crashes include one on I-205 near OR 212 and another at the east end of the Vista Ridge Tunnel.
A new project to pave about 12 miles of Interstate 5 between Wooburn and Brooks kicks off Sunday night, May 19. That stretch of freeway has not been paved in 11 years and the Oregon Department of Transportation says ruts in the roadway are causing a travel hazard. While most of the work will be done in the evenings, extended lane closure times will affect commuters in the morning and early evenings when as many as two lanes could be closed at a time.
Lane closures begin as early as 7 p.m. Sunday through Thursday evenings and last as late at 9 a.m. Monday through Friday mornings. The project is scheduled for completion by October.
ODOT Project map
Travelers should plan for delays of up to 30 minutes, according to ODOT. Local traffic detours are readily available, but for those who use the freeway to commute back and forth from the Portland metro area, few options exist. Drivers may want to try OR 99E from Brooks to Woodburn then rejoin I-5 in Woodburn.
Please drive with extreme caution through the construction work zone especially at night.
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NORTHWEST INDUSTRIAL 8:51 a.m.: Police are heading to a crash on U.S. 30 at Kittridge Avenue.
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SUNSET HIGHWAY 8:42 a.m.: Stall blocks the left lane of U.S. 26 eastbound near the cemetery.
Update 8:48 a.m.: Quickly cleared.
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SELLWOOD 8:38 a.m.: Crash westbound on the Sellwood Bridge. Reader says three vehicles are involved.
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BEAVERTON 8:37 a.m.: Crash on Southwest Murray Boulevard at Allen Boulevard.
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OUTER NORTHWEST MULTNOMAH COUNTY 6:15 a.m.: Crash on Northwest Germantown and Kaiser roads.
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CLACKAMAS 7:54 a.m.: Crash blocks two right lanes of I-205 southbound near the OR 212/224 interchange.
Update 7:58 a.m.: Quickly cleared to the right shoulder.
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GLENDOVEER 7:47 a.m.: Crash on Northeast Glisan Street at 160th Avenue.
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VISTA RIDGE TUNNEL 7:45 a.m.: Crash on the right shoulder of U.S 26 westbound at the east end of the tunnel.
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NORTHEAST PORTLAND 7:36 a.m.: Crash or disabled vehicle blocking a westbound center lane on I-84 at 148th Avenue.
Update 8:41 a.m.: Over an hour later this stall is finally clear.
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VANCOUVER 6:35 a.m.: Crash on SR 14 westbound, west of Shorewood Drive is backing up traffic heading to I-5.
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Travelers to and from McMinnville, Dundee, Dayton and Lafayette in Yamhill County are experiencing delays from the significant detour due to the closure of OR 18 near Dayton. The Oregon Department of Transportation has closed the road to work on repairs to two bridges in the area and repave the road surface. The bypass highway is closed from OR 154 (Lafayette Highway) to OR 99W at McDougall Junction through approximately May 24.
The all-hours on weekday detour requires drivers to take an eight mile route around the closure. Local traffic will be able to travel to and from Dayton on OR 18 from OR 154 to the Salem/Dayton Highway interchange. The work will be suspended by 6 a.m. on Fridays through midnight on Sundays for weekend travelers. The project is expected to be completed by July. For more details visit the project page.
The Portland Bureau of Transportation is paving Southeast Foster road from 82nd to 92nd avenues. The work began on Friday and will continue through the morning of Saturday, May 18. During the project, Southeast Foster Road will close 8 p.m.-6 a.m. nightly Mondays through Fridays. During the daytime, expect delayed travel through the work zone and watch for workers.
Westbound traffic on Foster Road will detour at 92nd Avenue north or south to Southeast Holgate Boulevard or Southeast Flavel Street. Eastbound traffic will detour at 82nd Avenue north or south to Holgate Boulevard or Flavel Street. TriMet bus 14 will also be detoured. Commuters should avoid area if possible and expect delays.
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