Interstate 205 South - Portland

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Interstate 205
Interstate 205 South
Crossing a wide point along the Columbia at Government Island, the Glenn Jackson Bridge is a little over 2 miles in length.

Crossing a wide point along the Columbia at Government Island, the Glenn Jackson Bridge is a little over 2 miles in length.

07/21/05

Cottonwood trees line I-205 on Government Island, where Lewis and Clark made camp in 1805. The island is inaccessible by car.

Cottonwood trees line I-205 on Government Island, where Lewis and Clark made camp in 1805. The island is inaccessible by car.

07/21/05

All guide signs from the Washington state line southward to Interstate 84 were replaced by mid 2006. Lighting fixtures were removed during the change.

All guide signs from the Washington state line southward to Interstate 84 were replaced by mid 2006. Lighting fixtures were removed during the change.

09/02/06

Killingsworth Street replaced Columbia Boulevard in the sign replacement a half mile north of Exit 24. Columbia Boulevard splits from U.S. 30 Bypass (Killingsworth Street) just west of Interstate 205.

Killingsworth Street replaced Columbia Boulevard in the sign replacement a half mile north of Exit 24. Columbia Boulevard splits from U.S. 30 Bypass (Killingsworth Street) just west of Interstate 205.

07/21/05

Exit 24 joins I-205 with Airport Way west to Portland International Airport (PDX) in a half mile.

Exit 24 joins I-205 with Airport Way west to Portland International Airport (PDX) in a half mile.

09/02/06

The control tower for Portland International Airport is visible from the west side of the freeway. "PDX," as the airport is also known, inhabits large areas of lowlands on the south bank of the Columbia in northeast Portland.

The control tower for Portland International Airport is visible from the west side of the freeway. "PDX," as the airport is also known, inhabits large areas of lowlands on the south bank of the Columbia in northeast Portland.

09/02/06

Two lanes depart I-205 south at Exit 24 for Airport Way to Portland International Airport (PDX). A number of commercial developments and hotels line the arterial in both directions.
2 photos

Two lanes depart I-205 south at Exit 24 for Airport Way to Portland International Airport (PDX). A number of commercial developments and hotels line the arterial in both directions.

07/21/05

09/02/06

Exit 24 from I-205 south ties into a signalized intersection with NE Airport Way while a flyover ramp connects I-205 north to Airport Way above. A big box retail center lies just west of Exit 24 at an exchange with Mt. Hood Avenue.

Exit 24 from I-205 south ties into a signalized intersection with NE Airport Way while a flyover ramp connects I-205 north to Airport Way above. A big box retail center lies just west of Exit 24 at an exchange with Mt. Hood Avenue.

09/02/06

"Truck Safety Corridor" next 21 miles. This stretch of I-205, along with a 15 mile section of I-5, were given this designation in 1999 as part of an effort by ODOT to raise motorist awareness of safety issues along accident-plagued stretches of freeway.

"Truck Safety Corridor" next 21 miles. This stretch of I-205, along with a 15 mile section of I-5, were given this designation in 1999 as part of an effort by ODOT to raise motorist awareness of safety issues along accident-plagued stretches of freeway.

07/21/05

A generic welcome sign for Oregon posted along I-205 south of the Columbia River.

A generic welcome sign for Oregon posted along I-205 south of the Columbia River.

07/21/05

Overhead distance sign for Columbia Blvd., Sandy Blvd., and Jct. Interstate 84/ US 30 eastbound.
2 photos

Overhead distance sign for Columbia Blvd., Sandy Blvd., and Jct. Interstate 84/ US 30 eastbound.

07/21/05

09/02/06

I-205 passes under the MAX (Metropolitan Area Express) airport light rail line. The overhead sign announces the next exit, exit 23B, US 30 by-pass/ Columbia Blvd.
2 photos

I-205 passes under the MAX (Metropolitan Area Express) airport light rail line. The overhead sign announces the next exit, exit 23B, US 30 by-pass/ Columbia Blvd.

07/21/05

09/02/06

Approaching exit 23B, US 30 by-pass westbound (Killingsworth Street) Exit 23A. US 30 by-pass eastbound (Sandy Boulevard), immediately follows. Though the "by-pass" designation for US 30 may seem irrelevant in this era of freeways, it is a vestige of pre-freeway times. It provided a bypass along the northern part of Portland, while the US 30 business route carried traffic through commercial districts along Sandy Blvd. west of where the two routes split. U.S. 30 Business was decommissioned in July 2007 and US 30 proper is cosigned with Interstate 84.
2 photos

Approaching exit 23B, US 30 by-pass westbound (Killingsworth Street) Exit 23A. US 30 by-pass eastbound (Sandy Boulevard), immediately follows. Though the "by-pass" designation for US 30 may seem irrelevant in this era of freeways, it is a vestige of pre-freeway times. It provided a bypass along the northern part of Portland, while the US 30 business route carried traffic through commercial districts along Sandy Blvd. west of where the two routes split. U.S. 30 Business was decommissioned in July 2007 and US 30 proper is cosigned with Interstate 84.

07/21/05

09/02/06

Exit 23A, Sandy Blvd/ by-pass US 30 eastbound. The off-ramp follows a 180-degree turn and actually exits onto Killingsworth Street. Turning right on Killingsworth leads to an intersection with Sandy Blvd. Eastbound Sandy Blvd. travels through Parkrose, a large business district and residential area in east Portland. Westbound Sandy Blvd. follows the former US 30 business route into the heart of the city.
2 photos

Exit 23A, Sandy Blvd/ by-pass US 30 eastbound. The off-ramp follows a 180-degree turn and actually exits onto Killingsworth Street. Turning right on Killingsworth leads to an intersection with Sandy Blvd. Eastbound Sandy Blvd. travels through Parkrose, a large business district and residential area in east Portland. Westbound Sandy Blvd. follows the former US 30 business route into the heart of the city.

07/21/05

09/02/06

This overhead sign for exit 22, eastbound Interstate 84/ US 30, immediately follows exit 23A.
2 photos

This overhead sign for exit 22, eastbound Interstate 84/ US 30, immediately follows exit 23A.

07/21/05

09/02/06

Interstate 205 reassurance shield posted south of U.S. 30 Bypass. A MAX airport light rail line runs between the northbound and southbound lanes of the freeway.

Interstate 205 reassurance shield posted south of U.S. 30 Bypass. A MAX airport light rail line runs between the northbound and southbound lanes of the freeway.

09/02/06

I-205 passes under Sandy Blvd. The freeway remains below grade for a while, passing under numerous overpasses.

I-205 passes under Sandy Blvd. The freeway remains below grade for a while, passing under numerous overpasses.

07/21/05

Southbound I-205 reaches exit 22, eastbound Interstate 84/ US 30. Follow I-84 east to reach the Portland suburbs of Gresham, Fairview, and Troutdale. To reach The Dalles, I-84 travels through the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.
3 photos

Southbound I-205 reaches exit 22, eastbound Interstate 84/ US 30. Follow I-84 east to reach the Portland suburbs of Gresham, Fairview, and Troutdale. To reach The Dalles, I-84 travels through the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.

07/21/05

09/02/06

Interstate 205 angles southeast through the city of Maywood Park on the one mile approach to I-84/U.S. 30 (Exit 22). The two freeways briefly commingle by Rocky Butte State Park. Historically, Interstate 84 (previously signed as Interstate 80N), was to run along the planned Mount Hood Freeway. This freeway never came to pass due to community opposition. Thus the Banfield Expressway alignment of the Interstate highway remains in service as the Interstate 84 mainline. Configurations at Interstate 205 see Interstate 84 merge with the travel lanes emanating from the Portland bypass at the northern point of their junction as a result of the Mt. Hood Freeway plan.

Interstate 205 angles southeast through the city of Maywood Park on the one mile approach to I-84/U.S. 30 (Exit 22). The two freeways briefly commingle by Rocky Butte State Park.
Historically, Interstate 84 (previously signed as Interstate 80N), was to run along the planned Mount Hood Freeway. This freeway never came to pass due to community opposition. Thus the Banfield Expressway alignment of the Interstate highway remains in service as the Interstate 84 mainline. Configurations at Interstate 205 see Interstate 84 merge with the travel lanes emanating from the Portland bypass at the northern point of their junction as a result of the Mt. Hood Freeway plan.

09/02/06

A view of the other sign on the sign bridge in the previous photo. It may seem odd that Portland is mentioned here, since I-205 is actually within the corporate limits of Portland at this point. The button-copy text means that this sign probably dates to the original construction of I-205, and was installed before Portland had expanded its city limits to incorporate the freeway and neighborhoods to the east. The community of Maywood Park borders the east side of the freeway here, but it is a city within a city and is bordered by Portland on all sides.

A view of the other sign on the sign bridge in the previous photo. It may seem odd that Portland is mentioned here, since I-205 is actually within the corporate limits of Portland at this point. The button-copy text means that this sign probably dates to the original construction of I-205, and was installed before Portland had expanded its city limits to incorporate the freeway and neighborhoods to the east. The community of Maywood Park borders the east side of the freeway here, but it is a city within a city and is bordered by Portland on all sides.

07/21/05

An overhead sign ushers the Exit 22 ramp departure to I-84/U.S. 30 east.
2 photos

An overhead sign ushers the Exit 22 ramp departure to I-84/U.S. 30 east.

07/21/05

09/02/06

Exit 22 leads traffic into a short tunnel that travels beneath Interstate 205 before merging onto the Banfield Expressway.
2 photos

Exit 22 leads traffic into a short tunnel that travels beneath Interstate 205 before merging onto the Banfield Expressway.

09/02/06

Interstate 205 runs parallel with I-84 in this stretch for about a mile between the junctions for eastbound and westbound I-84. I-205 doesn't change course, rather I-84 temporarily bends to a north-south orientation to avoid Rocky Butte, which is immediately west of both freeways.

Interstate 205 runs parallel with I-84 in this stretch for about a mile between the junctions for eastbound and westbound I-84. I-205 doesn't change course, rather I-84 temporarily bends to a north-south orientation to avoid Rocky Butte, which is immediately west of both freeways.

07/21/05

Overhead signs for exit 21A, Glisan Street and Stark Street and exit 21B, I-84/ US 30 westbound.

Overhead signs for exit 21A, Glisan Street and Stark Street and exit 21B, I-84/ US 30 westbound.

07/21/05

Exit 21A connects motorists with the Gateway District, a commercial district in east Portland, and Mall 205. Eastport Plaza is still several miles away.

Exit 21A connects motorists with the Gateway District, a commercial district in east Portland, and Mall 205. Eastport Plaza is still several miles away.

07/21/05

Exit 21B, I-84/US 30 westbound to Portland. The sign should really say "Portland city center" or "downtown," since the freeway is unequivocally inside the city at this point. Exit 21A immediately follows.

Exit 21B, I-84/US 30 westbound to Portland. The sign should really say "Portland city center" or "downtown," since the freeway is unequivocally inside the city at this point. Exit 21A immediately follows.

07/21/05

This overhead advance sign for exit 21A, Glisan Street and Stark Street is mounted on the Halsey Street overpass. There is no direct freeway access to Halsey Street, which runs through the Gateway District. Instead, one must exit at Glisan Street and follow directional signs to the district after that.

This overhead advance sign for exit 21A, Glisan Street and Stark Street is mounted on the Halsey Street overpass. There is no direct freeway access to Halsey Street, which runs through the Gateway District. Instead, one must exit at Glisan Street and follow directional signs to the district after that.

07/21/05

Exit 21A, Glisan Street and Stark Street. Like many I-205 exits in northeast Portland, this off-ramp is very long. To reach Stark Street, one must pass a lighted intersection with Glisan Street, then proceed on a collector distributor lane to Stark Street. Stark is actually a westbound one way street. Head east (left) on Washington Street (which is not mentioned on any signs!) immediately following Stark to reach Mall 205.

Exit 21A, Glisan Street and Stark Street. Like many I-205 exits in northeast Portland, this off-ramp is very long. To reach Stark Street, one must pass a lighted intersection with Glisan Street, then proceed on a collector distributor lane to Stark Street. Stark is actually a westbound one way street. Head east (left) on Washington Street (which is not mentioned on any signs!) immediately following Stark to reach Mall 205.

07/21/05

Interstate 205 is dubbed the Veterans Memorial Highway, as this sign just past the Glisan/Stark exit shows. Most maps refer to I-205 as the "East Portland Freeway." Note the lighted intersection of the exit 21A off-ramp with Glisan Street at the top of the photo.

Interstate 205 is dubbed the Veterans Memorial Highway, as this sign just past the Glisan/Stark exit shows. Most maps refer to I-205 as the "East Portland Freeway." Note the lighted intersection of the exit 21A off-ramp with Glisan Street at the top of the photo.

07/21/05

Distance sign for Jct. US 26 (Division Street/ Powell Blvd.) and Foster Road is mounted on the Glisan Street overpass.

Distance sign for Jct. US 26 (Division Street/ Powell Blvd.) and Foster Road is mounted on the Glisan Street overpass.

07/21/05

I-205 passes under the Burnside Street overpass. There is no direct exit to Burnside, Portland's north/ south divider street.

I-205 passes under the Burnside Street overpass. There is no direct exit to Burnside, Portland's north/ south divider street.

07/21/05

This image shows the exit 21A collector/ distributor lanes just past the intersection with Glisan Street on the way to Stark Street. Access to I-205 is provided for motorists who turned south onto the lanes at Glisan Street.

This image shows the exit 21A collector/ distributor lanes just past the intersection with Glisan Street on the way to Stark Street. Access to I-205 is provided for motorists who turned south onto the lanes at Glisan Street.

07/21/05

Advance sign for exit 19, US 26 (Division Street/ Powell Blvd.). A curiously vacant sign reading only "DMV" indicates that a Dept. of Motor Vehicles office may be accessed by taking exit 19.

Advance sign for exit 19, US 26 (Division Street/ Powell Blvd.). A curiously vacant sign reading only "DMV" indicates that a Dept. of Motor Vehicles office may be accessed by taking exit 19.

07/21/05

This I-205 reassurance shield is mounted on the Washington Street overpass.

This I-205 reassurance shield is mounted on the Washington Street overpass.

07/21/05

A view of the metered onramp coming down from Stark and Washington streets. Most onramps through this busy corridor are metered, but the signals are only in operation during heavy commute hours.

A view of the metered onramp coming down from Stark and Washington streets. Most onramps through this busy corridor are metered, but the signals are only in operation during heavy commute hours.

07/21/05

Another advance sign for exit 19 is mounted on a pedestrian bridge. The hospital referred to in the blue sign is Adventist Medical Center.

Another advance sign for exit 19 is mounted on a pedestrian bridge. The hospital referred to in the blue sign is Adventist Medical Center.

07/21/05

Head east on US 26 to reach Gresham. A city of 90,205 (2000 census), Gresham is Portland's largest Oregon suburb. (Vancouver, in Clark County, Washington is larger). US 26 eventually crosses the Cascade Range just south of Oregon's highest point, Mt. Hood.

Head east on US 26 to reach Gresham. A city of 90,205 (2000 census), Gresham is Portland's largest Oregon suburb. (Vancouver, in Clark County, Washington is larger). US 26 eventually crosses the Cascade Range just south of Oregon's highest point, Mt. Hood.

07/21/05

Southbound I-205 reaches exit 19, US 26/ Divsion Street and Powell Blvd. The offramp for exit 19 will divide, giving motorists a choice for either Division or Powell. The Powell Blvd. ramp passes under Division Street.

Southbound I-205 reaches exit 19, US 26/ Divsion Street and Powell Blvd. The offramp for exit 19 will divide, giving motorists a choice for either Division or Powell. The Powell Blvd. ramp passes under Division Street.

07/21/05

Like exit 22, the sign indicating exit 19 is placed overhead.

Like exit 22, the sign indicating exit 19 is placed overhead.

07/21/05

A view of the exit 19 off-ramp. Interestingly, traffic for US 26 eastbound is directed to turn at Division Street, while traffic for westbound US 26 is directed to Powell Blvd. However, US 26 in east Portland is signed only on Powell Blvd. and Division Street lacks any reassurance markers, save for a "to 26" marker that directs traffic toward Powell! Maps show US 26 as Powell Blvd.

A view of the exit 19 off-ramp. Interestingly, traffic for US 26 eastbound is directed to turn at Division Street, while traffic for westbound US 26 is directed to Powell Blvd. However, US 26 in east Portland is signed only on Powell Blvd. and Division Street lacks any reassurance markers, save for a "to 26" marker that directs traffic toward Powell! Maps show US 26 as Powell Blvd.

07/21/05

Services advance sign just past exit 19. Exit 17 is Foster Road.

Services advance sign just past exit 19. Exit 17 is Foster Road.

07/21/05

I-205 southbound just prior to the Holgate Blvd overpass. There is no exit to Holgate, but judging from the grassy strip at right, it looks like one had been originally planned then abandoned.

I-205 southbound just prior to the Holgate Blvd overpass. There is no exit to Holgate, but judging from the grassy strip at right, it looks like one had been originally planned then abandoned.

07/21/05

Advance sign for exit 17, Foster Road- 1/2 mile.

Advance sign for exit 17, Foster Road- 1/2 mile.

07/21/05

Distance sign for Foster Road, Johnson Creek Blvd., and Sunnyside Road.

Distance sign for Foster Road, Johnson Creek Blvd., and Sunnyside Road.

07/21/05

Willamette National Cemetery and the Oregon Korean War Veterans Memorial may be accessed by taking exit 17.

Willamette National Cemetery and the Oregon Korean War Veterans Memorial may be accessed by taking exit 17.

07/21/05

I-205 reaches the last Multnomah County exit, exit 17, Foster Road. Foster is a one- way westbound here in the Lents District of southeast Portland. To head east, cross through the intersection with Foster and then turn left on Woodstock Blvd. The two one way streets quickly rejoin after that.

I-205 reaches the last Multnomah County exit, exit 17, Foster Road. Foster is a one- way westbound here in the Lents District of southeast Portland. To head east, cross through the intersection with Foster and then turn left on Woodstock Blvd. The two one way streets quickly rejoin after that.

07/21/05

A view of I-205 just past the Foster Road exit. Mt. Scott, the location Willamette National Cemetery, is visible on the left.

A view of I-205 just past the Foster Road exit. Mt. Scott, the location Willamette National Cemetery, is visible on the left.

07/21/05

Advance sign for the first Clackamas County exit, exit 16, Johnson Creek Blvd.

Advance sign for the first Clackamas County exit, exit 16, Johnson Creek Blvd.

07/21/05

Southbound I-205 leaves the Portland city limits and crosses into Clackamas County. The Johnson Creek Blvd. exit is visible in the background.

Southbound I-205 leaves the Portland city limits and crosses into Clackamas County. The Johnson Creek Blvd. exit is visible in the background.

07/21/05

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Page Updated Thursday December 02, 2010.