I-5 Rose Quarter (Portland) Widening Project

[Sub-Urbanite]

Any chance the NIMBYs and anti-car types could still delay or kill this project?

It's Oregon. Oh yeah.

[PNWRoadgeek]

I'm guessing the "cover" is probably gonna happen. But the widening is probably a long shot, especially when you consider the NIMBYism of Portland and honestly, that section of I-5 is less jammed than both the Terwilliger Curves and the Interstate Bridge approach.

[Plutonic Panda]

The first phase of this looks to be on track to finish in 2027:

https://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/ORDOT-3ff7bd8?wgt_ref=ORDOT_WIDGET_8

[Sub-Urbanite]

I'm guessing the "cover" is probably gonna happen. But the widening is probably a long shot, especially when you consider the NIMBYism of Portland and honestly, that section of I-5 is less jammed than both the Terwilliger Curves and the Interstate Bridge approach.

The calculus that supports the lane widening happening is pretty simple:

- The funding comes from the Legislature, which is mostly comprised of politicians from outside of the Portland area

- Those politicians hear from truckers, who say business is slowed too much at Rose Quarter and expansion is needed for business (including downstate businesses)

- The Albina Vision folks are very politically connected and are adamant about the cap, and understand that without a widening, Salem pulls the funding for everything

- Sure, the bike lobby wants the cap without the widening. But there isn't a political reality in which the widening is cancelled without downstate Democrats, in particular, pulling funding for the cap.

[pderocco]

I'm guessing the "cover" is probably gonna happen. But the widening is probably a long shot, especially when you consider the NIMBYism of Portland and honestly, that section of I-5 is less jammed than both the Terwilliger Curves and the Interstate Bridge approach.

What are they planning to "cover", given that much of this part of I-5 is elevated?

[Sub-Urbanite]

I'm guessing the "cover" is probably gonna happen. But the widening is probably a long shot, especially when you consider the NIMBYism of Portland and honestly, that section of I-5 is less jammed than both the Terwilliger Curves and the Interstate Bridge approach.

What are they planning to "cover", given that much of this part of I-5 is elevated?

North of Moda Center.

[pderocco]

I'm guessing the "cover" is probably gonna happen. But the widening is probably a long shot, especially when you consider the NIMBYism of Portland and honestly, that section of I-5 is less jammed than both the Terwilliger Curves and the Interstate Bridge approach.

What are they planning to "cover", given that much of this part of I-5 is elevated?

North of Moda Center.

Thanks. Looks nice, but that's about all they could ever cover, I think. But I hope the public understands that once you cover something, you're never going to widen it, so do any likely needed widening first.

Maybe Portland needs its own Big Dig. Open up the east riverfront, get rid of the ugly Marquam Bridge.

[The Ghostbuster]

Good luck getting any more freeway tunnels constructed in the United States. You'd have better luck getting one constructed overseas.

[Plutonic Panda]

Calling that a widening is hilarious. That highway should be six lanes each way. But people are losing their shit over adding on auxiliary lane. This is stuff you just cannot make up.

[vdeane]

Calling that a widening is hilarious. That highway should be six lanes each way. But people are losing their shit over adding on auxiliary lane. This is stuff you just cannot make up.

If you think that's bad, you should see the people in NYC vehemently opposing adding shoulders to I-95.