News

Construction team highlight: Fusion Welding

Get to know another one of the crews helping make the Rose Quarter more resilient and earthquake-ready!

This month we’re highlighting Carlton Pascal Bennefield and Pascal Welding & Design, LLC. Pascal Welding & Design is supplying and installing seismic restraints under I-5, between NE Oregon Street and NE Lloyd Boulevard. These restraints are systems designed to reduce movement of structures in the event of an earthquake, helping improve safety and enhance resilience. 

Pascal Welding & Design was born out of a lifelong passion for bridges and the science of welding. While one of Bennefield’s earliest memories includes a formative drive across New York’s Brooklyn Bridge, he calls Portland home and is helping it grow. “I love helping my community [and] training them in welding...bringing it back, full circle.” Learn more about Bennefield and the deep experience he brings to the project here.  

Construction on this section of I-5 is expected to continue off and on throughout this year. Learn more about the dedicated workforce making it happen on our Workforce Opportunities page. We look forward to introducing you to more crews as the work goes on. 

Visit our Construction Travel Impacts page or sign up for text alerts to stay up-to-date with the latest news on traffic impacts and active closures.

Upcoming Closure of I-84 off-ramp to Holladay

Closure of I-84 off-ramp to NE Holladay Street and Oregon Convention Center: Beginning on Friday, April 24, there will be a closure of I-84 off-ramp to NE Holladay Street and Oregon Convention Center. Crews will be drilling foundations for a new sign structure over I-5. Drivers will be detoured to I-5 Exit 302A to NE Weidler Street. 

The ramp will close on Friday, April 24 at 10:00 p.m. It will reopen at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 26 to facilitate access to the Trail Blazers NBA playoff game at the Moda Center. The ramp will close again on Sunday, April 26 at 1:00 p.m. and remain closed all hours for an additional 8 days. 

Additional Closures:

Joint Meeting of Rose Quarter advisors scheduled for May 13

The public is invited to attend an upcoming meeting for the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project: 
 
On Wednesday, May 13, the Historic Albina Advisory Board (HAAB) and Community Oversight Advisory Committee (COAC) will meet 5:00–7:00 p.m. The meeting will be in-person at Albina Library, located at 205 NE Russell St, Portland, OR 97212. The meeting will also be available via YouTube livestream.

Anyone can observe the meeting and share comments via email, phone or virtually. Please visit the project’s events and meetings page for more information on how to view the meeting and share a comment. 
 
Project advisory committee meetings are open to the public. If you require accommodations or would like more information, please contact the project team at 503-470-3127 at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting.