ODOT: Southbound I-5 reopens after Rose Quarter project finishes early

PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) - Southbound Interstate 5 through Portland’s Rose Quarter reopened early Thursday morning, about a week and a half ahead of schedule, the Oregon Department of Transportation announced.

The closure was expected to last five weeks. ODOT said mild weather and crews working around the clock helped speed up the project.

ODOT initially said the interstate would reopen mid-day Thursday but just before 7:30 a.m., the southbound lanes were officially reopened.

“Southbound Interstate 5 in the Rose Quarter and on- and off-ramps in the work zone have reopened, sooner than estimated for this major milestone in the project. We thank drivers, residents, businesses and organizations for your patience and effective efforts to navigate around the closure,” ODOT said in a statement Thursday.

When the project first began, ODOT had warned of significant traffic impacts, but said backups did not reach Vancouver, Washington, as officials had feared. Travelers planned ahead and shifted their trips, ODOT Project Delivery Manager David Kim said.

Portland officials thanked people for adjusting their commutes and using detours. Some local businesses reported fewer customers during construction, while Moloko on North Mississippi Avenue saw business pick up, its owner and general manager said.

While the interstate has reopened, ODOT says drivers should continue to expect occasional ramp and lane closures as crews restore lane striping, barriers and other traffic controls to their original configuration.

The southbound reopening will not be the last major I-5 disruption for Portland. ODOT says a similar closure on northbound I-5 is planned for next summer.