Southbound traffic congests Interstate 5, just north of the I-5 southbound closures through the Rose Quarter for five weeks, on the first full day of closures in Portland, Ore., on Sept. 12, 2026.
Eli Imadali / OPB
“Give yourself that extra time to prepare,” said Rose Gerber, spokesperson for ODOT, speaking about the first weekday commute with I-5 southbound closures in place.
As the first part of a multi-year project, ODOT has closed all southbound lanes of I-5 through Portland’s Rose Quarter for the next five weeks. This project will replace the road’s concrete surface for the first time since 1985.
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A second lane has reopened on I-5 by Rosa Parks Way following its closure.
The ODOT is updating signs to reflect the recent change, as commuters return to work and school and face heavier congestion this week.
Gerber said ODOT initially reduced traffic to one lane near Rosa Parks Way to make striping changes and adjust access to some on-ramps, but has since reopened another lane.
However, some drivers appear to be staying in the original lane. She said ODOT plans to adjust signs so drivers know the second lane is open before they reach I-405, which should help ease heavier congestion Monday morning.
“We’re looking to see how we can make sure that the sign is clear so people can know what lanes are available and what detours are available to them,” Gerber said.
She said a normal commute could possibly take three times longer, although that estimate represents a worst-case scenario.
But Gerber said they are already seeing travelers make changes to their commute.
On Saturday, data showed a drop in volume of around 10% overall on I-405, I-205, I-84 and I-5, compared to the last four Saturdays.
“We know that that will not last through the week as we get back to our daily commutes and school trips, but we do know that we can see that messaging is working,” she said.
Drivers can check real-time routing conditions via websites like TripCheck and www.i5RoseQuarter.org.