Thanks to your actions during the closure, those who needed to drive on I-5 - like first responders and freight drivers - could get where they needed to go in a timely manner.

The Special Edition City Bike Bus was introduced during the I-5 closure with the intention to help downtown commuters shift their trip away from I-5. Because of the many Portlanders who shifted their trip during the closure, ODOT never saw the worst-case traffic scenario (tripled commute times).

As an extra incentive to join the Bike Bus, @portlandfarmers.bsky.social will be handing out coupons redeemable for $5 market tokens to spend at the Shemanski Park Farmers Market (open 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Wednesday).

There will be delays for those traveling through the work zone. During work hours, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., the traveling public is advised to expect delays, travel cautiously, observe all closures, traffic control devices and directions by flaggers, and use alternate routes if possible.

All this being said, we do try to use span wires and repair them where we can to get more life out of the intersection given our limited maintenance funds. With 1,150 signals, and a life span of 30-50 years, you're likely to see 5-10 rebuilds a year.

Conflicts with overhead wiring and National Electrical Safety Code requirements also make adding new span wires difficult. For the safety of electrical workers, wires need to be a certain distance from the power company, communications providers, and light rail & streetcar catenary.

Similarly, the Federal Highway Administration, Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices tells us where signal heads SHALL be installed which similarly creates requirements that often make building these signals a challenge. City, State, and Federal requirements tell us what we can do.

One example is SW 4th Ave. In downtown, we are not allowed (by City Code) to use aerial wire (b/c of aesthetics & clutter). New poles are based on standards from the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials, who put these on roadways where aesthetics are less of a concern.

The training allows crews to practice an aerial rescue in the event the tram is stopped for an extended period of time with passengers on board. Firefighters will be assisted by representatives from both PBOT, which owns the tram, and OHSU, which operates the tram in conjunction w/ Doppelmayr USA.

Fire & Rescue will conduct the exercise at the tram tower located next to Interstate 5. Instead of evacuating people from 100 feet above a parking garage, they will be 170 feet above the U.S. Congresswoman Darlene Hooley Pedestrian Bridge at Gibbs Street, next to six lanes of highway traffic.

Members of the Portland Fire & Rescue Technical Rescue Team lead the exercise, where tram employees will appear to be rescued, with ropes, pullies and the skills of firefighters. They have conducted the exercise each year since the tram was opened in 2007.

The work is funded by Portland's voter-approved 10-cent gas tax for fixing our streets and making them safer for all.

Following the repaving at NE 122nd Avenue and Halsey Street, the intersection will be restriped to separate right-turning motor vehicles from pedestrians and people biking and maintain the bicycle lanes on NE 122nd Avenue through the intersection.