You know that load of garbage or recycling you've been waiting to take to the dump? This might be the perfect weekend to get it there.
Next weekend? Not so much, at least if you live near the Metro South transfer station, at 2001 Washington Street in Oregon City.
The Oregon Department of Transportation is warning of gridlock in the area around Metro South when contractors close Highway 213 south of Interstate 205 at 8 p.m. Thursday, March 22.
The road isn't expected to reopen until early in the morning on Tuesday, March 27.
The roadwork, called the Jughandle Project, will impact one of the main access routes to the transfer station, one of two Metro operates in the region. A Highway 213 detour through central Oregon City will pass in front of Metro South, but ODOT is suggesting motorists stay away from the closure area completely.
Metro South will still be open during its normal hours, but it might be a good idea to take any loads of garbage or recycling to the Metro Central transfer station, at 6161 NW 61st Avenue in Portland.
The closure is part of a $27 million project, led by ODOT and Oregon City, to rebuild Highway 213 between Interstate 205 and Redland Road. The project's main goal is to improve traffic flow at the I-205 interchange. During the closure, contractors will slide an already-constructed bridge into place just south of I-205.