Date:  Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Contact: Abbi Russell, WSDOT Communications, (360) 905-2058 (Vancouver)
Brad Wurfel, ODOT Communications, (503) 731-8265 (Portland)

VANCOUVER – Commuters, shoppers and recreational drivers between Vancouver and Portland will face tough weekend drives for the next few months as four lanes of the southbound I-205 Glenn Jackson Bridge will be reduced to just two lanes during bridge joint replacement work.

The I-205 bridge is co-owned by the states of Oregon and Washington, with Oregon responsible for maintenance of the structure. More than 140,000 vehicles cross the bridge each day. ODOT is replacing 20 aging bridge joints on the north end of the structure. The joints are more than 30 years old and at the end of their functional lifespan.

Drivers felt the effects of around-the-clock double-lane closures during work on the northbound bridge lanes earlier this year. Backups extended 10 miles into Oregon, delays topped two hours and I-5 became clogged with detouring drivers.

Transportation officials in Oregon and Washington are coordinating traffic control during these lane closures. However, the agencies expect similar backups during southbound work that begins July 23.

WSDOT is asking drivers to avoid I-205 during around-the-clock double-lane closures, which are scheduled for every other weekend through September. Drivers will also encounter nighttime lane closures on weekdays and opposite weekends.

The summer’s schedule for southbound work is as follows:

• Friday, July 23, 9 p.m. – Monday, July 26, 5 a.m.: Right two lanes closed around-the-clock on southbound I-205. The SR 14 ramps to southbound I-205 will be closed all weekend.
  
• Friday, July 30 – Monday, August 2: Right two lanes closed southbound during nights only. The double-lane closures will take place from 9 p.m. to 10 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights. All lanes of I-205 will be open by 5 a.m. Monday.
  
  
• Friday, August 6, 10 p.m. – Monday, August 9, 5 a.m.: Right two lanes closed around-the-clock on southbound I-205. The SR 14 ramps to southbound I-205 will be closed all weekend.
  
  
• Friday, August 13 – Monday, August 16: Left two lanes closed southbound during nights only. The double-lane closures will take place from 9 p.m. to 10 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights. All lanes of I-205 will be open by 5 a.m. Monday.
  
  
• Friday, August 20, 10 p.m. – Monday, August 23, 5 a.m.: Left two lanes closed around-the-clock on southbound I-205.
  
  
• Friday, August 27 – Monday, August 30: Left two lanes closed southbound during nights only. The double-lane closures will take place from 9 p.m. to 10 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights. All lanes of I-205 will be open by 5 a.m. Monday.
  
  
• Friday, September 10, 10 p.m. – Monday, September 13, 5 a.m.: Left two lanes closed around-the-clock on southbound I-205.
  

On around-the-clock closure weekends, backups are predicted to extend north to the I-5/I-205 split (milepost 37) during the peak hours of 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Heavy congestion on connecting highways and city streets is likely.

If you must travel, plan ahead, take alternate routes and give yourself extra time to reach your destination.

Drivers can view Vancouver traffic flow maps and area web cameras at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/vancouver/VancouverTraffic/. For statewide traffic information, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic, or call 5-1-1 or 1-800-695-ROAD.

Oregon travel information can be found at www.tripcheck.com.

For more information on the I-205 Glenn Jackson Bridge Joint Replacement Project, please visit: http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/REGION1/GlennJackson/.

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WSDOT keeps people, businesses and the economy moving by operating and improving the state's transportation systems. To learn more about what we're doing, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/news for pictures, videos, news and blogs. Real time traffic information is available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic or by dialing 5-1-1.

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