Starting at 10 p.m. Friday, September 11, southbound Interstate 5 will close for approximately five weeks in the Rose Quarter for critical repairs and safety improvements, Oregon Department of Transportation officials announced Thursday. An average of about 120,000 vehicles travel through this section daily, including about 11,700 trucks.
Repairs of the elevated section just south of the Moda Center were last completed in 1985, more than 40 years ago and beyond the expected 25-year lifespan of the concrete surface, according to ODOT. The concrete has developed ruts, cracks and potholes from heavy use and weather. Crews will remove the concrete surface layer, conduct structural repairs to the base layer, and replace the concrete surface. Without the full repair, more frequent and costly emergency repairs will be needed, ODOT said.
The extended closure could bring significant delays affecting traffic beyond the Portland area. ODOT Director Chris Warner said travel times may take two to three times longer than usual, with congestion potentially backing up across the Columbia River into Washington and onto local streets. "I know this will be difficult for a lot of people," Warner said. "You have my commitment that we will reopen I-5 as soon as we can."
ODOT evaluated several options and determined the full closure is the quickest and most cost-efficient approach, saving up to $9 million in construction costs compared to other methods, according to the agency. Crews will work around the clock in three shifts during the closure.
Southbound I-5 on-ramps from Alberta, Greeley and Interstate 405 northbound will be closed. All southbound I-5 travel will be detoured to I-405 southbound, with regional traffic directed to Interstate 205. One lane of southbound I-5 will remain open to the Broadway exit by the Moda Center. Northbound I-5 and the I-84 westbound to I-5 southbound connection will remain open.
Portland city officials urged travelers to plan ahead and shift their trips. Portland City Administrator Raymond Lee said city crews will delay non-emergency work in the affected area to avoid adding to congestion. TriMet Executive Director Mary Hill noted that Max Yellow Line service runs parallel to I-5 from the Moda Center to downtown and may be an alternative for some travelers, though bus travel is expected to take longer than usual due to increased traffic.