Portland officials urge drivers to prepare for five-week closure of southbound Interstate 5 through the Rose Quarter

Transportation officials are urging drivers in the Portland area to plan ahead for a five-week closure of all southbound lanes of Interstate 5 through the Rose Quarter. The closure is scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. on Friday, September 11, and will last until October 17. During this period, commuters are expected to experience significant traffic congestion, particularly in North and Northeast Portland. Officials recommend that drivers leave earlier, use alternate routes, and make room for emergency vehicles by pulling to the right. The Oregon Department of Transportation is performing critical repairs, including repaving the surface, replacing bridge joints, and reinforcing weak areas of the elevated structure. To help manage the disruption, the Portland City Council will vote next week on a pilot program to provide all 9,000 city employees with a TriMet fare card. This program, which was added to the agenda by Mayor Keith Wilson, would cost the city up to $245,000. The initiative aims to help employees shift their travel modes during the I-5 closure and address the post-pandemic decline in public transit ridership.

Sources

• katu.com
  Officials urge Portland drivers to plan for southbound I-5 Rose Quarter closure
• KPTV
  Drivers concerned about traffic ahead of I-5 closure in Portland’s Rose Quarter
• Willamette Week
  As I-5 Closure Looms, Portland Will Consider Paying TriMet Fare for City Employees

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Paywall and unreadable sources

• OregonLive.com
  Portland’s I-5 closure will upend commutes for weeks. Here’s how employers are preparing
• KGW
  The I-5 southbound closure is happening in a week. Here's what Portland drivers need to prepare for