Portland Traffic: Tough This Weekend As Key Section Of 84 Closes

PORTLAND, OR —It won't be open until next summer but the Congressman Earl Blumenauer Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge will take a major step toward completion this weekend. The bridge will be set into place above Sullivan's Gulch.

The 450,000 pound, 400-foot long bridge will be attached to a temporary tower between I-84 and the railroad tracks.

Portland Bureau of Transportation says that this means that they will have to close 84 east of I-5 for the weekend.

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PBOT says that the new bridge, which will connect the Lloyd District and the Central East Side District, making getting from one area to other safer. No longer will pedestrians have to try crossing I-84.

The closure will begin at 10 p.m. on Friday and continue through 5 a.m.. Here are the details from PBOT:

I-84 eastbound

All I-84 eastbound lanes will close from I-5 to Cesar Chavez Boulevard, including:

• The ramps to I-84 from northbound and southbound I-5.
• The eastbound on-ramp from Northeast Grand Avenue, closing at 5 a.m. Friday.
• The eastbound on-ramp from Northeast 16th Avenue, will periodically open.

The eastbound on-ramp from Cesar Chavez Boulevard will remain open. On-ramps east of Cesar Chavez Boulevard will also remain open.

I-84 westbound

All I-84 westbound lanes will close at Interstate 205 including:

• The ramps from northbound and southbound I-205.
• The on-ramp from Northeast Halsey Street, near 82nd Avenue.
• The on-ramp from Northeast Glisan Street, near 58th Avenue
• The on-ramp from Northeast Sandy Boulevard.
• The on-ramp from Northeast 33rd Avenue.
• The ramps to northbound and southbound I-5.

When construction is done next year, both ends of the bridge will have pedestrian plaza. The bridge is being built to be earthquake resistant and provide a route for emergency vehicles in case one occurs.