About
The purpose of the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project is to improve safety and congestion where three major interstates converge and to reconnect the Albina neighborhood through the construction of a highway cover over a portion of I-5. Project benefits include improving safety and mobility on local streets, creating new space for community development, and developing a diverse and skilled workforce.
I-5 is the main north-south route moving people and goods and connecting population centers across the West Coast of the United States from Mexico to Canada. In the Portland region between I-84 and I-405, I-5 is critical for truck freight and businesses moving goods, commuters traveling to and from Portland, and locals traveling within the region.
Detailed project information is available on the full project website.
Please note that this graphic is conceptual and that the project design and cover shape may change as design progresses.
Project Improvements
The I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project will make travel more predictable and safer for people driving and transporting goods on I-5 between I-84 and I-405 by adding auxiliary lanes and shoulders that smooth traffic flow. The project includes a highway cover to reconnect the Historic Albina neighborhood and street improvements that will enhance safety and access for people walking, rolling, biking, riding transit, and driving on local streets. The project will support the regional economy, future economic development, and a more connected Albina community. Project improvements include:
- Highway cover over I-5 that will reconnect local streets and create new community spaces on top for future development and economic opportunities.
- New ramp-to-ramp lanes (auxiliary lanes) and shoulders along I-5 to reduce weaving and merging, improve safety, and smooth traffic flow between I-84 and I-405. Auxiliary lanes will reduce congestion at the state's top bottleneck. An estimated one-third of traffic will be able to stay on these ramp-to-ramp connections to travel between interstates instead of merging and causing congestion and safety issues.
- Wider shoulders in each direction of I-5 between I-84 and I-405, providing space for stalled vehicles to move out of traffic and for emergency vehicles to respond more quickly.
- Relocation of the I-5 southbound off-ramp from Vancouver/Broadway to the south, connecting with NE Williams Avenue and NE Weidler Street.
- Multimodal local street improvements including wider paths, curb ramps that are accessible in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and better lighting for people walking, biking, and rolling.
- A car-free pedestrian and bicycle bridge that will create a new path over I-5, connecting with the local walking and biking network.
- A new east-west roadway crossing over I-5 that will reconnect Hancock Street across the highway, adding another crossing north of Broadway/Weidler.
Committees
Advisory committees oversee and provide direction for the project. Committee members' expertise reflects diverse professional backgrounds, including minority-owned firms, advocacy groups, workforce development organizations, industry associations, and community-based organizations. Some members are leaders and volunteers with strong ties to historic Albina with a wide array of civic and community interests. All members have a strong record of advocating for people, particularly people of color and other diverse groups.
We welcome community members and invite them to comment at the beginning of meetings. For more information about the advisory committees, visit our Committees page.
Visit our Events and Meetings page for the list of upcoming committee meetings or subscribe to our email list to receive project updates and meeting notices.
Location
I-5
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I-5 between the I-405 and I-84 interchanges
Cost and Funding
As of June 2023, the current cost estimate is $1.5 billion to $1.9 billion. This cost estimate is based on the Project's preliminary design. Future cost estimate updates will be done as project design progresses. As of February 2025, $623 million has been programmed in the STIP across three Project Numbers (19071: $236 million; 23672: $382 million; and 23682: $5 million).
USDOT announced in March of 2024 that the project was awarded the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Grant (RCN) in the amount of $450 million. The RCN Grant ($450 million) funds the highway cover design completion and construction of the initial, central portion (but not all) of the highway cover. This includes finalizing the highway cover design, purchasing right of way and relocating utilities to ready the highway cover area for construction, and constructing the first segment of the highway cover near Broadway and Weidler.
In December 2024, the Oregon Transportation Commission allocated an additional $250 million in House Bill 2017 Urban Mobility Strategy funds to the Rose Quarter project. Combined with existing funding and a recently secured federal grant of $450 million, the project now has approximately $850 million – sufficient funding to begin construction in 2025 and deliver many of the project's most critical improvements.
With the first phase of construction funding now available, ODOT can build the first portion of the highway cover between the southern highway cover end and Broadway (about 550 feet in length), build the full southbound auxiliary lane and shoulder from I-405 to the Morrison Bridge exit, extend an initial portion of the northbound auxiliary lane and shoulder under the highway cover, complete bridge work in the southern project area, and construct stormwater facilities near I-405.
A variety of methods could be used to close the funding gap, including additional funding in the STIP, federal discretionary grants, additional statewide tax revenue, regional funding, and potential future tolling revenue.
Contractor
Hamilton/Sundt a Joint Venture in Association with Raimore Construction LLC.
Workforce Opportunities
For the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project, ODOT is changing the way it does business by setting goals and working to achieve values-based outcomes on how the project will contract with minority-owned Disadvantaged Business Enterprises and engage with the community. Visit our Workforce Opportunities page for more information.
Resources and Media
Visit our Project Library for documents related to the project and our Media page for media inquiries.
Additional Information
Questions? Just ask! Call us at 503-470-3127
For ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) or Civil Rights Title VI accommodations, translation services, interpretation services, or more information, call 503-731-4128 or Oregon Relay Service 7-1-1.
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