Photo: KATU
The Morrison Bridge will be closed to all users from 8 pm on Thursday, April 20 until 5 am on Friday, April 21 and from 7 am on Saturday, April 22 until as late as 4:30 am on Monday, April 24. Both closures are related to work to replace the deck of the drawbridge’s east leaf. The closures will impact motor vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians. The bridge will reopen earlier, if work is completed ahead of schedule.
Ramps between the bridge and Interstate 5 and Interstate 84 will be closed, except for the ramp from the Morrison Bridge westbound to I-5 north. Motorists can access I-84 eastbound at NE Grand Avenue and NE Everett Street.
To access downtown Portland from the freeways during the closure, I-5 southbound drivers can exit at the Rose Quarter/Broadway Bridge and I-84 westbound drivers can exit at Rose Quarter/Weidler exits.
There are different impacts for I-5 south traffic on Thursday night and on the weekend. On Thursday night, when I-5 south is open, I-5 south traffic can access the onramp to Highway 99E/U.S. 26. During the weekend, I-5 south will be closed between N Broadway and the Marquam Bridge, so I-5 south traffic can access downtown from the Rose Quarter/Broadway Bridge exit or from I-405.
During the closures Hamilton Construction will complete two tasks which require the lift span to be in the open (up) position:
- Thursday night: Complete installation of temporary heavy duty bearings (called live load shoes) to support the new east leaf deck, which will be heavier than the existing deck.
- Weekend: The contractor will jack the east leaf counterweight (which weighs 950 tons or 1.9 million pounds). The counterweight will be supported by jacks while the contractor installs new parts to support added weight on the new deck and counterweight.
The Morrison Bridge lift span deck will be replaced by the end of October 2017. Multnomah County maintains the Morrison Bridge and five other Willamette River bridges. For more information, visit www.multco.us/bridges or follow @MultcoBridges on Twitter.