Re-opening the ramp from westbound Interstate 84 to southbound Interstate 5 has been delayed by a day after discovery of extensive damage to the metal rebar below the road surface.
The ramp closed Friday, Aug. 17 and had been scheduled to re-open at 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 27. But the unexpected repairs and the delay in pouring the concrete have pushed the opening back to Tuesday, Aug. 28.
The re-opening is weather dependent and extensive rain could create another delay. The concrete requires three days to cure sufficiently before traffic can return to the ramp.
The problem is similar to the issue that caused an 18-hour delay on Aug. 6 in re-opening the ramp from westbound I-84 to northbound -5.
Travelers will be informed of the delay by highway variable message signs and by updated information on BigFixPDX.com, the web site with information of the 2018 summer construction projects.
All on-ramps to westbound I-84 between Interstate 205 and I-5 will remain closed until the ramp to southbound I-5 re-opens. They are Northeast Halsey Street, Northeast Sandy Boulevard, Northeast 58th/Glisan Street and Northeast 33rd Avenue.
Hamilton Construction and ODOT crews found the metal rebar, part of the ramp structure, severely damaged and in need of replacement in places under the existing concrete. The damage could not be seen until the concrete was removed.
Both the metal rebar and the concrete have been in place since the ramps opened in the early 1960’s.
We appreciate the public’s patience and understanding during these multi-day closures and apologize for the inconvenience.
The closure is the third of three critical summer ramp closures where I-5 and I-84 meet, the busiest interchange in the state. The project involves replacing bridge joints, removing existing concrete and pouring new concrete. The work is needed to keep the bridges functioning in the decades to come.
Source: ODOT