Skip to main content

Oregon State Flag An official website of the State of Oregon »

Project-Details







I-5 ODOT RealTime Signs (Ross Island Bridge to Terwilliger Boulevard) 

Construction Phase

Region 1: Portland metro and Hood River County (Portland, Multnomah)


​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ODOT is installing RealTime Variable Advisory Speed (VAS) signs along a busy stretch of Interstate 5 south of downtown Portland from the Ross Island Bridge to Terwilliger Bouleva​​rd to improve safety and traffic flow by providing drivers with real-time traffic information. Vea información en español​​.​​


Impacts

Traffic Impact

​​Traffic impacts on I-5 include nighttime lane closures, up to four weekend lane closures and up to five overnight closures in the project area. Overnight closures are currently planned during the summer. Expect delays and use caution when driving through the work zone.​

Construction Impacts

This week, Saturday, March 29 – Saturday, April 5:

  • No impacts.​
UPDATE (March 26): ​Traffic impacts originally planned for this weekend to prep for new RealTime Signs will be rescheduled.  

The work and associated lane closures on I-5 planned for this weekend will be rescheduled because some supplies needed for the work did not arrive on time.

  • ​The around-the-clock right lane closure on I-5 southbound scheduled for this weekend from 8 p.m., Friday, March 28, to 6 a.m. Monday, March 31 will need to be postponed to a later date.
  • We will provide updates before the next planned closure.​
Upcoming:​

Traffic impacts on I-5 include intermittent nighttime lane closures, up to four weekend lane closures and up to five overnight closures in the project area. Expect delays and use caution when driving through the work zone. 

Lane closure dates are subject to change. Nighttime lane closures on I-5 will continue intermittently throughout the project. Lane closure hours are 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.

​Up to five nights of full closures of I-5 this summer. These are needed to install the new sign bridges spanning the interstate. 

  • ​Closures will occur between midnight and 5 a.m.
  • Several on-ramps leading to the area will also close.
  • Neighborhood traffic can detour using Barbur Boulevard.
  • Regional traffic detours will use I-205 to I-84 or U.S. 26 to OR 217.

​We will continue to share dates and details of the traffic impacts and detour here on the project website in advance. Expect delays and use caution when driving through the work zone.​


Nighttime Noise
Those working or living in the area may hear the noise from heavy equipment, construction trucks, beeping noise when vehicles are in reverse, and equipment such as auger drills, backhoes, concrete mixers and saws, jackhammers and generators. A 24/7 nighttime noise hotline is available at: 503-276-7816.

Schedule

Construction: March 2025 through summer 2025. 

Design was completed in 2024.​

Details

About

ODOT is improving its RealTime system to make roads safer and help Oregonians get where they're going more efficiently by providing real-time traffic information to drivers. We are installing RealTime Variable Advisory Speed (VAS) signs along a busy stretch of Interstate 5 south of downtown Portland from the Ross Island Bridge to Terwilliger Boulevard. 

This project will:
  • Install 12 RealTime VAS signs at two locations – three signs per direction near SW California Street (south of Exit 298) and near S Hamilton Street (south of Exit 299). These two installations include building new truss sign bridges over the freeway.
  • Upgrade the variable message sign on I-5 north near Iowa Street (south of Exit 298).
RealTime VAS signs:
  • ​​Calculate and display advisory speeds based on conditions ahead using traffic sensors, weather sensors, and cameras along the roadway.
  • Improve safety and traffic flow by reducing crashes and their associated delays.
  • Help prevent rear-end crashes by warning drivers of slowdowns ahead.
  • Give drivers advance notice about speed changes ahead due to current conditions so they can make real time decisions.

Location

I-5 |

Ross Island Bridge to SW Terwilliger Boulevard (near Exit 297).​​

I5_VSS-Project Area Map-2024.png

Cost and Funding

Project cost: $7M

Funding for the project is from the Oregon Transportation Commission’s Statewide Transportation Improvement Program.

Additional Information

For Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or Civil Rights Title VI accommodations and/or translation/interpretation services, (503) 731-4128, TTY (800) 735-2900 or Oregon Relay Service 7-1-1.

¿Habla español? Podemos proveer la información en esta publicación en español. Para recibir la información en español por favor llame (503) 731-4128. 

Contacts & Media

Project map

Project Contact

Community Affairs Coordinator
Lili Boicourt
Email
Lili.D.Boicourt@odot.oregon.gov
Phone
503-731-8247

Get Project Alerts

Sign up for the newsletter!

Last Updated

3/28/2025 4:06 PM

Project Number

21602

Project Documents

Related documents to this project
Upcoming Projects On I-5 Mailer FEB 2024.pdfA project mailer showing the upcoming projects on I-5
I-5 RealTime Signs Ross Island Bridge SW Terwilliger FEB 2025.pdfA project mailer discussion the construction of I-5 RealTime Signs at Ross Island Bridge and SW Terwilliger