Southbound Interstate 5 through Portland’s Rose Quarter is expected to reopen by midday Thursday, Oct. 8, after a weeks-long repair project finished about a week ahead of schedule. The Oregon Department of Transportation said crews would begin reopening lanes and ramps around 10 p.m. Wednesday. Cleanup, equipment removal and road striping could continue for as long as 24 hours, leaving some lanes and ramps closed during that work. ODOT said it would issue an alert when all southbound lanes and ramps are open. The project began Sept. 11 and was initially expected to take five weeks. ODOT spokesperson Rose Gerber said mild weather and few construction disruptions helped crews finish early. She urged drivers to stay clear of the area until the highway is officially open. Crews worked around the clock on the roughly two-mile stretch, replacing aging concrete and making the roadway more resilient to earthquakes. The work also included rebar repairs, new bridge joints and upgraded barriers and railings. Crews prepared space near the I-84 off-ramp at the Moda Center for a merging-lane extension planned for next year and moved a sign for the Morrison/OMSI exit to improve visibility. Traffic on I-5 and nearby streets proved less difficult than officials had initially feared. ODOT had warned that commute times could double or triple if drivers continued using their usual routes, but conditions stabilized after the first few weeks as people adjusted their travel habits. Construction in the Rose Quarter will continue through next spring, with overnight single-lane closures and occasional street closures tied to earthquake-safety upgrades and rail replacements. ODOT also plans to announce a similar closure of northbound I-5 through the area, expected to begin in summer 2027.