PORTLAND -- A construction project in Southwest Portland will impact drivers for the next month and a half.
The Oregon Department of Transportation has closed the I-5 ramps to Multnomah Boulevard, both northbound and southbound, as part of a sewer project.
About 12,000 cars a day use the ramps. The change will be hard on not only commuters, but local business owners, too.
Linda Berning owns Northwest Wools. Her business has been in Multnomah Village for more than two decades. She said this is the biggest time of the year for sales and she's worried about her bottom line.
"I don’t think it’s going to finish in 45 days. I honestly don’t believe it," she said. "This is happening at the worst time, just before Christmas. It’s a big time for the village.”
However, she did get one bit of encouragement Monday; Berning said her first customer of the day said she was able to follow detour signs without any trouble.
ODOT officials said they studied traffic patterns and don’t believe there will be any serious disruptions for motorists.
