OPB’s First Look: The traffic jam that wasn’t

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Good morning, Northwest.

Monday’s commute was relatively smooth sailing, despite the two-mile closure of I-5 southbound through Portland — even from Vancouver.

OPB’s Erik Neumann reports this morning on how the Rose Quarter project is affecting Southwest Washington and why transportation officials aren’t celebrating yet. His story starts today’s newsletter.

Also this morning, a longtime camp crier prepares for his final performance at Pendleton Round-Up.

Here’s your First Look at Tuesday’s news.

— Bradley W. Parks

Top story

Vancouver traffic largely unaffected by start of I-5 Rose Quarter project

From Vancouver, Washington, you’d never know that a massive highway project, ominously dubbed “carmageddon,” was underway seven miles away in downtown Portland yesterday morning.

Transportation officials have warned that gridlock from the closure of all southbound I-5 lanes in Portland’s Rose Quarter Improvement Project could back up traffic into Washington.

But during the first rush hour of the construction project, the eight big-screen TVs at the Washington State Department of Transportation Traffic Management Center showed cars speeding across the Interstate Bridge at their usual clip. Traffic was slightly heavier on the I-205 bridge a few miles to the east. (Erik Neumann)

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3 things to know

• Traffic officials hope yesterday’s relatively uneventful morning commute is a sign that drivers worked from home, took public transit or carpooled to work. But they warn traffic could easily spike at any time during the five-week I-5 closure. (Monica Carrillo-Casas and Joni Auden Land)
• One person is dead, and several others were injured in a four-vehicle crash in Clatsop County Saturday night. One of those four vehicles was a van carrying 13 Oregon National Guard members. (OPB staff)
• The Supreme Court yesterday rejected President Donald Trump’s bid to restrict mail ballots for the midterm elections, capping a flurry of last-minute legal action with voting already underway. (AP)

Northwest headlines

• Some Eugene students could see larger class sizes after 4J budget cuts (Nathan Wilk, KLCC)
• Oregon organization helps young people recover from psychosis (Mia Maldonado, Oregon Capital Chronicle)
• New water tanks on College Hill increase seismic resiliency of Eugene’s water system (Tiffany Eckert, KLCC)

Listen in on OPB’s daily conversation

“Think Out Loud” airs at noon and 8 p.m. weekdays on OPB Radio, opb.org and the OPB News app. Today’s planned topics (subject to change):

• Hermiston’s very busy building inspector wins statewide honor
• Crime Stoppers of Oregon ends after more than 4 decades
• Hollywood Theatre festival showcases new musical scores created for silent films

One more look

Longtime Camp Crier and his horse prepare for final ride at Pendleton Round-Up

Dancer knows the routine.

The 21-year-old black-and-white war pony has memorized the turns through the outdoor arena that transforms into a stage for Eastern Oregon history every September.

His rider Aaron Hines, dressed in a bright orange shirt and jeans, sat atop Dancer during a recent rehearsal, both at ease, waiting for their cue. The bond he and Dancer have built over the last eight years made their routine look smooth and effortless.

They’re veterans of the Pendleton Round-Up’s Happy Canyon Night Show, a pageant involving about 700 animals and volunteers aiming to tell the stories of the region.

A whole roster of events for Eastern Oregon’s largest rodeo starts this week, with Happy Canyon opening its 110th season to crowds tomorrow night. This Round-Up will also be Hines and Dancer’s last performance together.

“It’s time to pass it on to the younger generation to take over and keep doing it,” he said. (Monica Carrillo-Casas)

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