Why does traffic in Portland become busy at 3:00 on workdays?

Question

Portland, Oregon

Each workday around 3:00 traffic becomes incredibly busy, this is earlier than most cities, why is this?

Answer 1

Simply because many workplaces start their day early... this allows the rush hour to spread out over a couple of hour time period and reduces traffic jams and accidents....

Answer 2

the same thing happens in seattle. People are going to work earlier and getting off work earlier in the afternoon these days. I avoid the freeway  2-6pm  if I can help it. Also is there still construction happening on the portland bypass hwy?  People might be snarling downtown because of that.