Starting Sunday, September 11, all southbound lanes of 1-5 through the Rose Quarter will be closed for up to five weeks. The roadway surface has surpassed its 25-year lifespan and is showing its age with an increasing number of ruts, cracks and potholes from heavy use. To make repairs, a full 24 hours per day, seven day a week closure of the southbound lanes of I-5 between I-405 and I-84 is needed. During this time, one lane will remain open for the I-5 exit to Broadway/Weidler to maintain local access to that area.
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) encourages drivers to plan ahead for significant delays and unpredictable travel times. Congestion could back up across the Columbia River into Washington and onto local streets in the Portland area. If possible, choose a different mode of travel (MAX, light rail, streetcar, bus, bike, walk or carpool), work from home and/or arrange appointments to change times before or after the closure and plan your trip in advance, adjusting the route to your destination to a location that is away from the closure area.
Multiple options for repairing I-5 were considered before ODOT finalized plans. The southbound closure for up to five weeks was determined to be the safest, shortest duration and the most cost-effective compared to other construction methods…