PORTLAND, OR --  Interstate 84 is reopened in Portland, following a massive clean-up effort. The freeway closed between I-5 and I-205 for 13 hours over the weekend while crews removed graffiti and garbage.  Workers from ODOT, PBOT, Metro, Multnomah County, TriMet and Union Pacific worked together on the project.  

"Well over 150 people actively working out here in this five-mile stretch," says Oregon Department of Transportation Director Kris Strickler. In addition to vandalism repairs, ODOT took advantage of the closure to conduct other maintenance, "We've been doing drainage work, landscape work and other things that wouldn't be accessible to us without a closure like this." They also replaced around 40 signs, "Next time you come through the corridor, you'll see many new signs, you'll see things that are quite a bit different. And you'll see that cleanup effort really coming to fruition."

Strickler says it's a project that began in the spring, after the Legislature approved $20 million for a broader clean-up effort, "Since April, a little over 36,000 pounds of trash have been removed from Oregon freeways- or Portland freeways, I should say. Almost 29,000, or individual paint-over tags throughout the entire Portland region."

Governor Tina Kotek pushed for the additional funding to address what she called an important livability issue, "If you're coming in from the airport into our beautiful city, whether you're on the MAX or driving in, how this looks and feels is really important to how people feel about their communities." She told reporters Sunday, "Do we solve everything in one foul swoop, in one weekend? No. Do we make significant progress? Absolutely. So, when folks are back on these roads, they're going to see it cleaner, they're going to see things picked up."

Strickler acknowledges they can't prevent future vandalism but says ODOT is committed to getting a better handle on it, "There will be some that comes back, certainly. And our efforts are to continue to attack that problem, because that problem is a societal problem for all Oregonians. And everyone's experiencing the impact of that. And while I can't guarantee you that it won't come back in near term, I can guarantee that it won't be as bad as it has been."

TriMet and Union Pacific also cleaned up areas around their rail lines during the closure.

Photos:

(top left) Crews paint over graffiti along the I-84 corridor in northeast Portland; courtesy of ODOT.

(upper right) Gov. Kotek and agency leaders address reporters Sunday, during the closure.

(above center) The Banfield Freeway sits empty Sunday morning, 07/14/24, as crews clean up the area.