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Dylan Rivera and Bikram Raghubansh oversee traffic management for five-week southbound Interstate 5 closure in Portland

The Portland Bureau of Transportation will begin a five-week closure of all southbound lanes of Interstate 5 through Portland's Rose Quarter starting late Friday night. The closure allows for the repair of a 2-mile stretch of the highway, replacing the concrete surface for the first time since 1985 and retrofitting the highway south of the Moda Center to be earthquake ready. Dylan Rivera, a spokesperson for the Portland Bureau of Transportation, stated that commute times could double or triple in areas near the construction site. To manage the congestion, the agency has installed 13 additional traffic cameras in high-impact zones. Bikram Raghubansh, an engineering supervisor, noted that staff can remotely monitor and adjust traffic signals from the Portland Building or from home. Officials are encouraging drivers to plan ahead and use alternate routes, such as I-405 and I-205. The agency also suggests that commuters consider carpooling, biking, or using public transit to reduce the number of cars on the road. The five-week plan was selected because it was the fastest option and saves approximately $9 million compared to other alternatives.

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