Snow Flurries and Nightly Bridge Closures Impact Tuesday Commute

Morning Commute Overview

Portland commuters are facing a chilly and damp start this Tuesday, February 17, 2026. Current conditions report light snow showers across the metro area with temperatures hovering around 36°F. While significant accumulation is not expected on city streets during the morning hours, the 37% chance of snow throughout the day may create slick spots, particularly on overpasses and in the higher elevations of the West Hills. Drivers should remain alert for changing conditions as the forecast predicts continued light snow into the evening hours.

Major Highway and Bridge Alerts

Several significant maintenance projects and inspections are set to impact major arteries starting today. Most notably, the St. Johns Bridge is scheduled for nightly inspections beginning tonight, Tuesday, February 17. The bridge will see full nightly closures through Saturday, February 21, to allow crews to perform safety checks. Commuters who typically use the bridge for late-night travel should plan for detours via the Fremont or Sellwood bridges.

In the West Linn area, construction on I-205 is reaching a new phase. Effective this week, the southbound off-ramp from I-205 to OR43 will be intermittently closed during overnight hours (10:00 PM to 5:00 AM) through early March. Additionally, the OR43 southbound off-ramp to I-205 northbound is also closed during these same nightly hours. On I-5, travelers should expect lane and shoulder closures between the Ross Island Bridge and Terwilliger Boulevard as crews install new RealTime Variable Advisory Speed signs. Northbound and southbound traffic on I-5 near the I-405 interchange is also subject to 14-foot width restrictions during the night.

Local Roadworks and Closures

Beyond the highways, local commuters should be aware of several ongoing projects:

• SE Courtney Avenue: This road is closed between SE Courtney and the surrounding intersections daily from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM for a critical water line relocation project. This closure is expected to last through late February.
• Highway 100: Continued road construction is occurring approximately four miles west of Ainsworth State Park. Drivers heading toward the Columbia River Gorge should use I-84 as an alternate route.
• SE 52nd Avenue: Minor delays may occur near SE Center Street and SE Gladstone Street due to crossing improvement projects currently in the engineering and initial work phases.

Public Transport Updates

TriMet is reporting several service alerts today. Riders on the following lines should check for specific stop closures or minor delays:

• Line 72-Killingsworth/82nd Ave: Currently showing the highest number of active alerts due to ongoing infrastructure work along the 82nd Avenue corridor.
• Line 77-Broadway/Halsey: Expect minor route adjustments and frequency variations.
• Line 99-Powell Blvd: Multiple alerts are in effect for stops between Southeast Portland and the city center.

Transit riders are encouraged to allow an extra 10 to 15 minutes of travel time this morning to account for weather-related slowing and the high volume of active maintenance alerts across the system.