I-5 Rose Quarter construction impacts
Construction in the I-5 Rose Quarter Area is scheduled to begin in September and is expected to continue through October. We are sharing this information to help you understand how this construction project may affect members’ non-emergent medical transportation (NEMT) services to access health care appointments and visits.
We encourage you to be patient and reschedule appointments as needed to accommodate members who may experience delays due to the construction. While this construction project directly affects travel near the Rose Quarter, it’s likely that traffic throughout the region will be significantly worsened as drivers detour around the closure.
- The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is conducting a large-scale improvement project to improve safety and congestion where the major interstate highways intersect. ODOT will be closing certain exits of Highway I-5 through Portland’s Rose Quarter area.
- I-5 Southbound (SB) closure: I-5 southbound lanes between I-405 and I-84 will be closed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for 5 weeks. The closure will begin at 10pm on Friday, September 11. The project will last until early October. Some ramps may close as early as 9pm on September 11.
CareOregon/Health Share of Oregon members may experience longer & extended travel times and potential delays, as well as limited same day service. Ride to Care will only be able to set up same-day rides for critical health care needs. Ride to Care may schedule more trips for members to share to be more efficient with our driver network.
In advance of this closure, Ride to Care is proactively communicating to members about this change and working with the vendor that supports our trip scheduling system to ensure trips are not routed through areas that will be closed.
Drivers and transportation providers will likely be the most impacted by this project, and it will affect their ability to perform as many trips as they normally would during the same time.
More information about the I-5 Rose Quarter project and construction impacts can be found on the project site here: https://www.i5rosequarter.org/current-construction-travel-impacts/. For further questions please reach out to: medicaltransportation@careoregon.org
