Commuters who travel the Rose Quarter stretch of southbound Interstate 5 are in for significant traffic delays when officials close the busy thoroughfare 24/7 for up to five weeks.
The closure, part of the long-delayed renovation of the Rose Quarter, is set to begin Sept. 11 and will focus on structural repairs to a 2-mile section of the highway.
Officials expect the delays to be severe, estimating travel times could balloon to two or even three times longer than normal, with congestion potentially backing up across the Columbia River into Washington, more than 7 miles from the Rose Quarter…