Interstate 205 Oregon / Washington
Interstate 205 is generally a six lane freeway that bypasses Portland by way of Oregon City and Portland International Airport. The right of way for I-205 is wide enough to accommodate future expansion. 08/27/06
Overview
Interstate 205 is the eastern bypass of the Portland metropolitan area. The mileage based exit numbering system continues from Oregon north into Washington. Fully opened in 1983 with the opening of the Glenn Jackson Bridge over the Columbia River, the first section of Interstate 205 to begin construction was the bridge over the Willamette River in West Linn, in 1968.
To avoid the Interstate Bridge north of downtown Portland on Interstate 5, I-205 is a recommended alternate route for through traffic.
History
Construction of Interstate 205, the East Portland Freeway, was delayed throughout the 1970s as a result of a series of challenges related to the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).1 Nevertheless, I-205 was completed in stages:
- 1968-1970: Willamette River Bridge opened in West Linn on May 28, 1970
- 1974: freeway from Interstate 5 northeast to West Linn and Oregon City opened in Clackamas County
- 1974-1978: controversy erupts over Multnomah County segment, with protests made to the Environmental Quality Commission. A compromise crafted by Glenn L. Jackson (Oregon Transportation Commission Chair) was reached between the various parties involved: community groups, environmentalists, and governmental agencies. By 1978, Interstate 205 construction was allowed to continue after a nearly five-year hiatus.
- 1978-1979: most controversial segment of Interstate 205 in Multnomah County constructed as a six-lane facility with fewer interchanges and fewer lanes than originally proposed; rights of way reserved for a busway
- December 1982: Glenn L. Jackson Bridge over the Columbia River opened, thus completing the Oregon section of Interstate 205. This bridge was featured on the cover of that year’s Oregon Official State Map.
- 1983: Washington section of Interstate 205 completed, thus finishing the bypass route
Interstate 205 was the last spur or bypass Interstate route to be constructed in Oregon.
Route Information
Mileage
Oregon – 26.07
Cities – Portland, Milwaukie, Parkrose
- Junctions –
Washington – 10.57
Cities – Vancouver
Junctions –
Source: December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List
I-205 Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)
Highway Guides
North End – Salmon Creek, Washington
North at
Exit 36 represents the final departure point from Interstate 205 north ahead of the merge with I-5. NE 134th Street connects the freeway with Washington State University at Vancouver. Photo by Doug Kerr (09/09/09).
An end I-205 shield stands at the wye interchange with Interstate 5 northbound. Photo by Chris Elbert (05/28/05).
South at
Southbound Interstate 5 at Exit 9 for NE 179th Street to Mount Vista. I-205 splits with the freeway next in 1.5 miles. Photo by Doug Kerr (09/09/09).
Interstate 205 provides a bypass of Downtown Portland for points east along I-84. A scenic freeway, I-84 straddles the south banks of the Columbia River east to The Dalles. Photo by Doug Kerr (09/09/09).
Exit 7 separates from I-5 south for I-205 to Washington State University at Vancouver, Portland International Airport (PDX) and I-5 south of Portland to Salem, Oregon. Photo by Doug Kerr (09/09/09).
South End – Tualatin, Oregon
South at
Interstate 205 advances west from Stafford to I-5 and the city of Tualatin. Photo by Doug Kerr (09/05/09).
Interstate 205 concludes as traffic separates for I-5 north back toward Portland and I-5 south to Salem, Eugene and Medford. Photo by Doug Kerr (09/07/13).
North at
Exit 286 leaves I-5 north to Stafford and North Wilsonville. The ensuing interchange connects with Interstate 205 northbound. Photo by Doug Kerr (06/07/14).
Previous guide signs for Interstate 205 referenced The Dalles (via I-84 east) and Seattle, Washington (via I-5 north). Photo by Doug Kerr (06/07/14).
This sign displays the Portland Interstate network prior to the split of I-205 from I-5 north. Similar signs are posted at the split of I-95/295 north to Petersburg and south to Richmond in Virginia. Photo by Doug Kerr (06/07/14).
Interstate 5 northbound at the directional T interchange (Exit 288) with I-205. Photo by Doug Kerr (06/07/14).
South at
1.5 miles ahead of Exit 288 for I-205 north on Interstate 5 southbound. 08/27/06
Continuing south, the succeeding exits on I-5 link with Tualatin / Sherwood and Interstate 205 north. 08/27/06
Three lanes advance south beyond I-205 toward Salem, Eugene, Medford, and California while two lanes connect with the Portland bypass to West Linn and Oregon City. Photo by Chris Elbert (04/30/05).
Exit 288 leaves I-5 south at the Sagert Street over crossing in Tualatin. Interstate 205 heads eastward six miles to West Linn and eight miles to Oregon City before turning north to Clackamas and east Portland. 08/27/06
South End Throwback
Interstate 205 at the Prosperity Park Road underpass prior to six lane expansion west to I-5. Photo by Chris Elbert (04/24/05).
The mainline defaulted I-205 south onto Interstate 5 toward Salem while a third lane opened for I-5 northbound to Tigard and Portland. Photo by Chris Elbert (04/24/05).
Page updated November 6, 2020.
