ODOT I-5 Southbound Closure Week One Traffic Report: Delays increasing over first week

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(Sept. 18, 2026) Since the closure began last Friday, Sept. 11, Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) teams have been monitoring traffic patterns. We have some initial observations from the first week.

We started off strong with a minimal increase in travel time over the weekend, but we're seeing travel times increase each day as more drivers return to the highway system. If this trend continues, traffic will significantly worsen. Consider your options to take public transit, carpool, or shift the time of day you travel.

The more people adjust their habits during this closure, the better it will be for people who do not have flexibility to adjust their trip, including emergency responders and freight drivers. This closure could last up to five weeks. This is a marathon, not a sprint!

Don't forget to support local businesses along the corridors parallel to I-5. You can find more information about how to get around on ODOT's Closure Travel Resources page and PBOT's Shift Your Trip page. Check ODOT's TripCheck or your favorite traffic mapping app before you head out for the latest travel conditions.

Join the Sept. 23 City Bike Bus!

Join the City Bike Bus next Wednesday, Sept. 23 and catch a ride on one of eight unique bike bus routes! Locations start in the areas of N University Park, NE Woodlawn, NE Cully, NE Roseway, SE Mill Park, SE Woodstock, SE Springwater, and SW Hillsdale. Join the bike bus from the starting location or hop on along the route. All bike bus ride leaders will wear pink vests for easy identification.

Initial traffic observations from week one

I-5 Southbound: Average travel times on I-5 southbound increased from 1.4 times longer than usual on Monday to 1.6 times longer on Wednesday. At PM peak hour, travel times have reached up to two times longer. Travel times on I-5 southbound remain greater than usual all day. It seems that many people stayed home or avoided the area in the first few days, but are now returning to the system, increasing travel times.

We are encouraged to see that people are shifting their travel time and route, leaving earlier or later than usual. Morning and afternoon rush hour is longer than usual, with morning travel congestion beginning as early as 5 a.m. and evening congestion continuing until 7 p.m. and later.

Alternate Routes: I-405 southbound, I-205 southbound between the Columbia River and I-84 junction, and I-84 westbound have also seen travel times increase over the course of the week.

Local Streets: We are experiencing increases in traffic on some local streets, notably the St. Johns Bridge, N Interstate Avenue, N Going St, NE Lloyd Blvd, N Greeley Avenue, N Vancouver Avenue, and NE Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. PBOT is adjusting some traffic signals in response to these observations. PBOT reports that neighborhood streets and greenways are not experiencing a notable increase in traffic. Thank you for doing your part to prevent cut-through traffic on neighborhood streets!

Heads up: ODOT's I-5 closure extends to Marquam Bridge overnight for three nights

On the nights of Sept. 21, 22, and 23, the ramp from I-84 westbound to I-5 southbound will be closed between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., extending the existing I-5 southbound closure about 1.25 miles to the junction at I-405 on the Marquam Bridge. ODOT maintenance crews will complete required 2-year maintenance inspections of the Marquam Bridge.

Detour Routes: All overnight westbound traffic from I-84 will be directed to I-5 northbound. Detour routes will be clearly signed. The ramp from I-84 westbound to I-5 southbound will remain open during daytime hours. More information is available on ODOT's Construction Travel Impacts page.

Visit ODOT's Construction Travel Impacts page for more information about concurrent closures. Sign up for ODOT's email and/or text alerts to stay up to date with the latest news on traffic impacts and active closures.