I-5 southbound closure is now in effect through Portland’s Rose Quarter

Southbound I-5 through Portland’s Rose Quarter is closed around the clock as of September 13, 2026, changing travel routes for commuters, freight operators, school transportation, businesses and visitors to the district.

The closure began Friday, September 11, and covers the southbound freeway between the I-405 and I-84 interchanges. The Oregon Department of Transportation expects the work to last up to five weeks, although weather and construction conditions could affect the schedule.

What is closed and what crews are doing

ODOT says the work includes roadway resurfacing, bridge preservation, stormwater improvements, construction of a southbound auxiliary lane and signage improvements. The work is part of the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project.

One lane remains open from the I-405 junction to the Broadway/Weidler exit, but the full southbound segment between the I-405 and I-84 interchanges is closed. ODOT also lists sidewalk and lane closures on local streets near the Oregon Convention Center, including NE Oregon Street, North Interstate Avenue and NE Lloyd Boulevard. Occasional closures of the I-84 off-ramp to NE Holladay Street and nighttime or shoulder restrictions are also possible as crews work on sign structures, stormwater facilities and the highway.

Portland streets are expected to carry more traffic

Transportation officials expect longer travel times and congestion during the morning and afternoon-evening commute periods. OPB reported that rush-hour conditions could extend from about 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., with backups reaching North and Northeast Portland streets.

PBOT has identified Greeley, Interstate, Mississippi, Vancouver, Broadway, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, and 15th and 33rd avenues as streets where traffic may concentrate. The city is asking drivers to use major arterials rather than cut through residential neighborhoods.

Freight operators face a direct challenge because I-5 is a major route for trucks moving through Portland. OPB reported that local trucking companies are planning alternate routes and adjusting delivery schedules, with substantially longer trips possible if congestion builds.

Schools, medical travel and events may feel the effects

The closure is also expected to affect school transportation and daily business access. OPB reported concerns about possible school-bus delays and described businesses near Northeast Broadway adding extra time to appointments and commutes. The effects will vary by route, schedule and location.

Patients and visitors traveling to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center should plan alternate routes and extra time for appointments. Portland Fire and Rescue has emphasized that drivers should move right and make room for emergency vehicles, especially when traffic is stopped or moving slowly.

Events at the Moda Center and Oregon Convention Center are scheduled to continue during the closure. Visitors should expect changing ramp access, heavier local-street traffic and possible delays. Transit, carpooling or arriving early may be more practical than driving directly through the Rose Quarter.

How to get around

ODOT and local transportation officials recommend transit, carpooling, biking, walking, alternate work or school schedules and off-peak travel when possible. OPB reported that TriMet planned to operate two-car MAX Yellow Line trains, with service every 15 minutes or better from the Delta Park park-and-ride. The Yellow Line runs parallel to I-5 from the Expo Center through North Portland and downtown.

PBOT also plans traffic monitoring, signal adjustments and measures intended to discourage neighborhood cut-through traffic. Officials have encouraged travelers to shift trip times and use major streets instead of residential routes where possible.

Drivers should check current conditions before leaving through TripCheck and the Rose Quarter project website. The closure is temporary, but ODOT has not provided a firm reopening date beyond its expectation that the work could take up to five weeks.

Sources

• ODOT: I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project
• OPB: Authorities try to avoid ‘carmageddon’ during 5-week closure of I-5 southbound

Look for updates to this story

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