North and Northeast Portland residents need to be prepared for massive traffic congestion problems from a five-week closure beginning Sept. 11 of all southbound lanes of I-5 through the Rose Quarter.
The complete 24-hour, seven-day-a-week closure is part of the of the Oregon Department of Transportation’s I-5/Rose Quarter Improvement Project, intended to reduce congestion and improve safety where I-5, I-84 and I-405 converge. ODOT officials say southbound freeway traffic will probably back up into the State of Washington and spill over onto nearby commercial and residential streets, including North Interstate Avenue.
According to ODOT:
- I-5 southbound to be closed between I-405 and I-84.
- I-5 southbound travel to be detoured to I-405 southbound. Regional traffic to be directed to I-205.
- One lane to the Broadway/Weidler exit will remain open for local and event center access.
- On-ramps from Greeley, I-405 northbound/Fremont Bridge and the Moda Center to I-5 southbound will be closed.
- I-5 southbound ramp to I-84 eastbound will be closed.
- I-84 westbound to I-5 southbound will remain open.
- I-5 northbound will remain open.
The closure will allow ODOT crews to repair and reinforce weak areas, replace bridge joints, repave the surface, and repaint lane lines on the southbound lanes in the project area.
More information is available at i5rosequarter.org/current-construction-travel-impacts.