A new travel lane on Interstate 205 southbound from the eastbound Interstate 84 ramp to Exit 19 (Division/Powell) opened on Wednesday and is part of the ongoing project to reduce crashes and improve safety along the freeway. The Oregon Department of Transportation estimates that about 25% of southbound traffic on I-205 comes from I-84 and heads to the Division Street/Powell area. The new auxiliary lane offers direct access between the two exits without having to merge into through traffic.

This new lane is one of three planned between Johnson Creek and the Glenn Jackson Bridge. The project has been in progress since 2017 and is expected to take about two years to complete. Scheduled completion is for winter of 2019. Read more about the work here: www.i205construction.org

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TRIMET MAX BLUE LINE 8:52 a.m.: TriMet reports MAX Blue line delays to Hillsboro of at least 15 minute through 9:30 a.m. due to an earlier operating issue near Gateway Transit Center.

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SOUTHEAST PORTLAND 8:40 a.m.: Crash reported on Southeast Milwaukie Boulevard at Holgate.

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NORTHEAST PORTLAND 8:08 a.m.: Hit-and-run crash reported on Northeast 33rd Avenue at Alberta Street. Avoid the area.

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ALAMEDA 7:29 a.m.: Crash on Northeast 33rd Avenue just south of Klickitat Street.

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Heads up for next week:

Canby Ferry:

Also, a sewer repair project will close a section of “Better Naito” at Southwest Salmon Street for a week beginning Monday, April 8. The lane will be closed to bicyclists and pedestrians 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily through Friday, April 12.

Travelers wishing to use the Better Naito lane northbound will be routed to Waterfront Park at Southwest Main Street then along the Waterfront Park trail rejoining Better Naito at Southwest Yamhill Street. Southbound travelers will use the same route in the opposite direction.

Sewer project requires the closure of Better Naito for a week. Graphic courtesy of BES

Use caution in the area as crews will need to excavate under the street and there will be workers and equipment in the work zone during the day.

Check back throughout the morning for the latest commuting updates and follow us on Twitter: @trafficportland