PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) – Portland drivers, cyclists and pedestrians should prepare for frequent and extended bridge lifts during Fleet Week beginning June 3, Multnomah County officials announced Thursday.
The annual Rose Festival event welcomes ships from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and Canadian forces, with multiple downtown bridges affected. Including the Steel, Broadway and Burnside scheduled to lift as vessels arrive and depart.
On Tuesday, June 3, three ships are expected to arrive between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., with bridge lifts lasting up to 45 minutes. Four more ships are scheduled to arrive on Wednesday, June 4, between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. All times are approximate and subject to change.
Departures, and more traffic disruptions, are set for the morning of Monday, June 9, as the ships leave the city.
The Steel Bridge will see additional impacts. Its lower deck, reserved for pedestrians and cyclists, will be closed from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 3 and 4 (and possibly June 5) depending on ship arrivals. The closure is aimed at managing crowds gathering to watch the event.
The lower deck will close again on June 9 at 6 a.m. until all ships have left. Pedestrians and cyclists may use the bridge’s upper deck sidewalks, though alternate routes are recommended.
TriMet will continue running regular MAX and bus service across the Steel Bridge, but riders should expect delays during scheduled bridge lifts.
Fleet Week is a longstanding Portland tradition, offering the public a rare chance to see military ships dock along the waterfront.
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