Interstate 205 Oregon / Washington

Interstate 205 Oregon
Interstate 205 Washington
OR 212 at I-205 - Clackamas

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

  • North End – Salmon Creek, WA

  • South End – Tualatin, OR

  • Total Mileage – 36.64

Mileage

Oregon – 26.07

  • Cities – Portland, Milwaukie, Parkrose

  • Junctions – I-5 I-84

Washington – 10.57

  • Cities – Vancouver

  • Junctions – I-5

Source: December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

I-205 Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)

Source: 2017 Transportation Volume Tables – Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT)
2017 AADT – WSDOT Traffic Data Geoportal

Portland inset on the 1971 Oregon Official Highway Map

The 1971 Oregon Official Highway Map shows the initial section of Interstate 205 linking I-5 at Tualatin with U.S. 99E in Oregon City.

Portland inset on 1975 AAA Oregon Map

Interstate 205 was extended north from Oregon City to Woodstock Boulevard / Exit 17 in southeastern Portland by 1975.

 Photo Guides

North End I-5 – Salmon Creek, Washington

I-205 North at I-5

Exit 36 leaves I-5 north for NE 134th St at Salmon Creek, Washington

The final exit from Interstate 205 north ahead of return to I-5 connects with NE 134th Street at the census designated place of Salmon Creek. 07/16/23

I-205 north end at Salmon Creek, WA

An entrance ramp from NE 139th Street converges with I-205 where traffic merges onto Interstate 5. 07/16/23

I-5 South at I-205

I-5 south at NE 179th St, 1.5 miles from I-205 at Mt. Vista, WA

Southbound Interstate 5 at Exit 9 for NE 179th Street to Mount Vista. I-205 splits with the freeway next in 1.5 miles. 07/20/23

One mile ahead of the split with I-205 on I-5 south at Mt. Vista, WA

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. 07/20/23

Sign schematic of the I-5/205 separation at Salmon Creek, WA

I-205 separates from I-5 at a wye interchange (Exit 7) between the census designated places of Salmon Creek and Mount Vista. 07/20/23

I-5 south a half mile from Exit 7 / I-205 to Salem, Oregon

Interstate 205 provides access from I-5 south to NE 134th Street for Salmon Creek and Washington State University at Vancouver. 07/20/23

Two lanes part ways from I-5 south for I-205 around Portland, Oregon

Exit 7 separates from I-5 south for I-205 to Portland International Airport (PDX) and I-5 south of Portland to Salem, Oregon. 07/20/23

I-205 North End Throwback

I-205 north at NE 134th St in 2009

The replacement of the sign bridge at Exit 36 dropped Washington State University (WSU) at Vancouver for the last exit from I-205 northbound. Photo by Doug Kerr (09/09/09).

Removed end shield for Interstate 205 north

Long removed, this end shield for I-205 appeared at the wye interchange with Interstate 5 northbound. Photo by Chris Elbert (05/28/05).

I-5 South at I-205

Replaced overhead for I-205 / Exit 7 on I-5 south at Mt. Vista, WA

A diagrammatic overhead displaying the ramp configuration at Exit 7 replaced this assembly by 2012. Photo by Doug Kerr (09/09/09).

I-5 south at Exit 7 to I-205 in 2009

A diagrammatic overhead displaying the ramp configuration at Exit 7 replaced this assembly by 2012. Photo by Doug Kerr (09/09/09).

South End I-5 – Tualatin, Oregon

I-205 South at I-5

One mile east of Interstate 5 on I-205 southbound at Tualatin, OR

Interstate 205 advances west from Stafford to I-5 and the city of Tualatin. 07/20/23

SW 65th Avenue crosses I-205 east of the end at I-5 in Tualatin, OR

SW 65th Avenue spans Interstate 205 ahead of the unnumbered directional T interchange with I-5. 07/20/23

The south end of Interstate 205 in Tualatin, Oregon

Interstate 205 concludes as traffic separates for I-5 north back toward Portland and I-5 south to Salem, Eugene and Medford. 07/20/23

I-5 North at I-205

Two miles south of I-205 along I-5 north at Elligsen Rd

Exit 286 leaves I-5 north to Stafford and North Wilsonville. The ensuing interchange connects with Interstate 205 northbound. 07/16/23

I-5 straddles the Tualatin, Oregon city line north to I-205.

Previous guide signs for Interstate 205 referenced The Dalles (via I-84 east) and Seattle, Washington (via I-5 north). 07/16/23

Diagrammatic sign showing the Portland, Oregon Interstate system

This sign displays the Portland Interstate network prior to the split of I-205 from I-5 north. 07/16/23

I-205 branches east from I-5 to Stafford and Oregon City, OR
Exit 288 departs I-5 north for Interstate 205 at Tualatin, OR

Interstate 5 northbound at the directional T interchange (Exit 288) with I-205. 07/16/23

I-5 South at I-205

I-5 advances a half mile south from Nyberg St to I-205 in Tualatin, OR

The first reference of Interstate 205 north on I-5 south appears a half mile ahead of Exit 288 at Nyberg Street. 07/20/23

Five lanes continue south from Nyberg St to I-205 in Tualatin, Oregon

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. 07/20/23

I-5 south at Exit 288 for I-205 north to Oregon City, Oregon

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. 07/20/23

I-205 South End Throwback

I-205 South at I-5

I-205 south at I-5 - 2005

Interstate 205 at the Prosperity Park Road underpass prior to six lane expansion west to I-5. Photo by Chris Elbert (04/24/05).

I-205 south at I-5 - 2005

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).

I-5 South at I-205

Removed overhead for I-205 that was posted 1.5 miles ahead of Exit 288

1.5 miles ahead of Exit 288 for I-205 north on Interstate 5 southbound. This assembly was removed during 2018 construction expanding the Lower Boones Ferry Road entrance ramp with ramp meters. 08/27/06

I-5 south at Exit 289, 0.75 miles from I-205.

This reference for I-205 at Exit 289 was removed during 2018 construction adding a fourth southbound lane to Interstate 5. 08/27/06

I-5 south ahead of I-205 in Tualatin, OR prior to expansion

Interstate 5 with four southbound lanes leading to Exit 288 and I-205 north. Photo by Chris Elbert (04/30/05).

I-5 south at I-205 north in 2006

Removed overheads for I-5 and I-205 / Exit 88 at the Sagert Street overpass in Tualatin, Oregon. 08/27/06

Sources:

  1. Interstate 50th Anniversary: The Story of Oregon’s Interstates.

Page updated February 1, 2024.