PORTLAND, Oregon.(KOIN) — As transportation officials prepare for a major closure along I-5 in southwest Portland this weekend, local residents and businesses are expecting disruptions to their normal daily lives.
The closure will run southbound between the Southwest Terwilliger exit and the Capitol Highway entrance, and northbound between the Southwest Barbur Boulevard exit and the Terwilliger entrance. In total, it’s a four-mile stretch that will be affected by the Southwest 26th Avenue bridge replacement project. The closure will begin at 9 p.m. Friday and end at 5 a.m. Monday, July 1.
People who need to travel on what would normally be that stretch of highway can still get to their destination, but it just might take longer to get there. KOIN 6 News has a full breakdown of alternative routes at this link.
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On paper, heavier traffic flow to neighborhood streets might seem like a good thing for local businesses. However, a local bar owner who spoke with KOIN 6 News said he is bracing for a loss of business.
“I expect a 40 to 50% drop in sales,” said Patrick Murphy, owner of The Old Barn on Southwest Barber Boulevard. “I know people say, ‘Oh, there’s a lot of cars passing by.’ Right, but they don’t necessarily want to go to lunch, they don’t necessarily want to go to dinner or whatever.”
Murphy said the local bar normally serves dozens of patrons on its busiest days, especially Friday and Saturday nights.
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Neighbors and regulars of The Old Barn said they find the idea of a four-mile highway being completely closed for days on end confusing and frustrating.
“We don’t understand why they’re closing the entire freeway for the entire weekend,” said Chantal Wright. “This is extreme. If you live anywhere near I-5, you’re going to hear this construction all night long.
Murphy acknowledged these frustrations, but he also said he understands that these kinds of inconveniences can arise in the name of infrastructure improvements.
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“Anytime we see a structure that is an improvement, I think most people are in favor of it. And you know I’m certainly willing to put up with some level of inconvenience, you know,” Murphy said. “We’re here, we’re open, and you know, come on by.”
Don Hamilton, a spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Transportation, explained to KOIN 6 News the urgency behind the bridge replacement.
“It’s really at the end of its useful life. We have to make sure it’s safe, we have to make sure it’s seismically reinforced,” he said. “If you plan ahead, there shouldn’t be any disruption. Any time you take a major road like Interstate 5 out of service, out of the transportation system, there’s going to be a lot of problems.”
Motorists can expect congestion and delays this weekend in the areas around the Southwest 26th Avenue I-5 bridge, including detour roads. The bridge was originally built in 1959, was widened in the 1980s and currently carries about 100,000 vehicles per day, officials said.
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