The third and final closure in the Interstate 84 paving will begin at 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, when the westbound lanes close as the final phase of the project gets under way.
The westbound lanes will close from Interstate 205 to Interstate 5 at 11 p.m. Saturday Aug. 3 and will re-open by 5 a.m. Monday Aug. 5.
Crews completed the paving of the Banfield during the two previous weekend closures last month. This weekend, the work will include installation of new signs, new striping and a new configuration of the westbound I-84 merge with northbound Interstate 5.
After the weekend striping, there will be one lane to northbound I-5 from I-84. The configuration allows both the middle and right lanes onto the ramp to northbound I-5. But motorists must then quickly choose between two exit-only ramps – one leading to the Rose Quarter and one to I-5.
The last-minute lane changes have caused a high number of rear-end and sideswipe crashes. In the new configuration, one exit-only lane from I-84 will lead to the ramp and an unhurried choice between the Rose Quarter and northbound I-5 exits.
The new lane configuration will reflect the traffic flow at the west end of I-84, where 67 percent of the vehicles take the ramp to southbound I-5 and 33 percent take the ramp to the northbound freeway.
Several east-west alternate routes are available during the closure, including Lombard Street, Columbia Boulevard, Sandy Boulevard, Burnside Street and Powell Boulevard. Motorists should avoid Marine Drive, which will be closed between Northeast 33rd Avenue and 223rd Avenue for a triathlon.
Travelers can get the latest information about changes to the schedule on the Web at www.i84paving.org or www.tripcheck.com.
The project will be completed by the fall of 2013. Motorists should expect continued night lane and ramp closures as construction crews complete the project.
