As area pear growers begin one of their earliest harvests on record next week, the Port of Hood River will delay planned deck welding maintenance work on the Hood River Interstate Bridge to accommodate hauling needs.  The Port is cancelling single lane closures that were planned for next week.  There will be brief closures of toll house lanes early next Friday (August 28) between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. for equipment inspections that cannot be rescheduled.  Flaggers will be on site to direct traffic through the toll lanes, minimal delays are expected.  Maintenance welding on the bridge deck is done annually, usually in August.  The work must be performed during dry weather, so the Port will reschedule lane closures in September.