Freeway opponents file lawsuit to stop Interstate 5 expansion project

(MAY 16, 2024) Interstate 5 is a busy highway, especially in Portland's Rose Quarter where it goes from 4 lanes to two lanes in each direction. This is what's called a "bottleneck", and it slows traffic significantly. So the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODT) has a plan to widen it. 

Some people do not like this idea. In fact, five organizations recently filed a lawsuit against state transportation officials in Multnomah County. They say this idea is not good for Portland because it doesn't match the city's growth plans. The five groups want the project to stop until it complies with those plans. They say that these changes to the highway "will adversely affect the climate, air quality, traffic congestion, and the daily lives of Portland residents.”

Opponents say the city's plan requires "congestion pricing". That means that cars pay a toll to use the highway during peak driving times. Also, the project is actually much larger than just two lanes; there will be enough construction to allow additional lanes in the future. Finally, they say the state has not proved that this is the only way to fix the traffic problems.

This isn't the first time that organizations like No More Freeways have complained, and it isn't the first lawsuit, either. People have been concerned about the growth of highways for many years.

But the ODT plan is larger now. It will add two lanes to help with traffic. It will also build a "cap" to cover the freeway. The goal is to reconnect parts of the historically Black neighborhood called Albina that were separated when the highway was first built. The plan allows for construction on top of the caps, too, which means it is delayed and more expensive.

In March, the Federal Highway Administration said the project can proceed. The state agrees. The federal government also offered $450 million to help cap the freeway.