Portland metro Monday traffic: Fleet departures lift bridges during morning commute

Fleet Week Portland Rose Festival 2018

Fleet ships depart Portland on Monday morning. Mark Graves/Staff LC- Mark GravesLC- Mark Graves

The final Fleet Week ships are leaving Monday morning and will cause delays downtown and throughout the TriMet system as three of Portland’s busy bridges will be up for extended periods of time. The ships don’t give out specific times, but bridge lifts can happen any time between 7 and 10 a.m. In prior years ships have started up the Willamette earlier than 7 a.m.

TriMet warns riders to expect “delays of 30 to 60 minutes on bus, MAX and Portland Streetcar” during the morning commute. If you normally ride a bus that crosses the Broadway, Steel or Burnside bridges be ready for detours and delays.

Pedestrians and bicyclists may want to use the Morrison, Hawthorne or Tilikum Crossing bridges to avoid delays.

Update 8:13 a.m.: Witnesses from the Esplanade saying the fleet ships are moving now. Be ready for bridge lifts.

Update 9:07 a.m.: Looks like traffic is blocked from the St. Johns Bridge for fleet departures as well.

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NORTH PORTLAND 7:22 a.m.; Injury crash with several units responding on North Lombard Street at Woolsey Avenue, near Columbia Park.

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SOUTHWEST PORTLAND 7:14 a.m.: Crash on I-5 southbound near Multnomah Boulevard exit is on the right shoulder.

Update 7:40 a.m.: Cleared.

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Clackamas County drivers will see road work near Damascus this week:

Commuter effected by the upcoming closure of Northwest Cornelius Pass Road between U.S. 30 and Kaiser Road can attend informational meetings about delays and detours that will happen in July. The meetings are:

  • 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 11, Scappoose High School Auditorium, 33700 SE High School Way, Scappoose, Columbia County
  • 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, June 17, Westview High School, 4200 NW 185th Ave., Washington County

A recent release said the meetings will include a briefing about the history and purpose of the project, construction schedule, traffic plan and future transfer of the road to the Oregon Department of Transportation. Display maps will show work locations and detour routes. Participants will have a chance to share their suggestions, concerns and questions with the project team.

When the road closes to through traffic in July, access will be maintained for local residents and emergency services. Alternate routes for through traffic are:

  • Cars and pickup trucks: From U.S. 30 take Northwest Newberry Road, Northwest Skyline Blvd. and Northwest Old Cornelius Pass Road to Washington County
  • Trucks: From U.S. 30 take I-405 south to U.S. 26 west. From July 19-29, large trucks will need to use the I-5/I-405 loop to reach U.S.26 from U.S. 30, due to an ODOT highway project.
  • Trucks carrying hazardous loads: These trucks cannot use the U.S. 26 tunnel in Portland. The detour is longer, taking I-5 south to OR 217 north to U.S. 26 west.

Check the project page for more details: Cornelius Pass Road Safety Improvements.

Check back throughout the morning for the latest commuting updates and follow us on Twitter: @trafficportland

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