Date:  Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Contact: Heidi Sause, WSDOT Communications, 360-905-2057 (Vancouver)

VANCOUVER – This weekend marks the third of four around-the-clock, double-lane closures on the southbound Glenn Jackson Bridge, and the halfway point for southbound bridge joint-replacement work.

So far drivers have done an exceptional job adjusting their commutes to help the Washington and Oregon departments of transportation avoid serious backups and delays on I-205 in Vancouver.

However, there is one additional factor for drivers to consider as they head into this weekend. The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) will perform multiple bridge lifts while crews hand-grease cables on both directions of the I-5 Bridge between the hours of 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 20 and Saturday, Aug. 21.

“As we have seen before, I-5 is often used as an alternative route by drivers avoiding the work on I-205,” said Deputy Regional Administrator Rick Sjolander of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). “With night time work scheduled on both bridges, there is a greater need for drivers to stay informed and avoid travel if possible.”

ODOT crews will close one southbound lane on the I-205 Glenn Jackson Bridge at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20. A second southbound lane will close at 9 p.m., and traffic will remain limited to two southbound lanes until 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 23. The ramps from SR 14 to southbound I-205 will close from 7 p.m. this Friday to 5 a.m. the following Monday.

Reducing the four-lane bridge to half its capacity increases the chance for backups, especially during the peak traffic hours of 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. WSDOT asks drivers this weekend to plan their trips outside peak hours or take alternate routes.

Drivers can “know before they go” by checking the area’s online traffic-flow maps and cameras at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/vancouver/VancouverTraffic.

This summer ODOT is replacing 20 aging bridge joints on the north end of the Glenn Jackson Bridge. The joints are nearly 30 years old and at the end of their functional lifespan.

For statewide traffic information, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic, or call 5-1-1 or 1-800-695-ROAD.

For more information about ODOT’s I-205 Glenn Jackson Bridge Joint Replacement Project please visit: 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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