FreightWaves Classics: Interstate 5 runs from Mexico to Canada (Part 2 – Oregon and Washington)

in the Part 1 This article focused on the California portion of Interstate 5. This article focuses on I-5 in the states of Oregon and Washington.

overview

There are 70 primary interstate highways in the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways (commonly known as the Interstate Highway System or IHS) is a network of highways in the United States. The oldest parts of the interstate system date from the 1950s, and planning for the system began before World War II. To learn more about their history, read previous FreightWaves Classics articles here, here, and here.

This article and future articles examine information about specific highways. In this series, the interstates are shown in numerical order (Interstate 2 and Interstate 4 to date; there is no Interstate 1 and Interstate 3 is not yet active).

As most people know, highways are assigned one- or two-digit route numbers (e.g., I-10 or I-55). Associated interstate highways are given three-digit route numbers (e.g., I-270, I-495, etc.).

Interstate highways, with route numbers divisible by 5, typically represent major coast-to-coast or border-to-border routes (e.g., I-10 runs from Santa Monica, California, to Jacksonville, Florida, from the Pacific to the Atlantic ). .

This map shows the route of the I-5 from the Mexican to the Canadian border. (Image: i5Highway.com)

Interstate 5 is unique

Interstate 5 (I-5) is the primary north-south freeway on the west coast of the United States. It usually runs parallel to the Pacific coast in the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. The total length of I-5 is 1,381.29 miles.

Its southern origin is San Ysidro (San Diego), California, the busiest international border crossing in the country. it ends in Blaine, Washington. The I-5 connects all major population centers along or near the west coast of the United States, including San Diego, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Portland, and Seattle. The I-5 also provides freeway connections to San Francisco Bay via the I-580 and I-505.

What makes I-5 unique? It is the only continuous highway that touches both the Mexican and Canadian borders. When it reaches the Mexican border, I-5 continues as Mexico Federal Highway 1 to Tijuana, Baja California. At the Canadian border, the highway continues as British Columbia Highway 99 to Vancouver.

Interstate 5 in Oregon

The relatively rural terrain of far northern California continues when Interstate 5 enters Jackson County near Ashland in southern Oregon and north of Portland in Washington.

This photo shows a congestion on I-5 south of Portland. (Photo by Oregon Department of Transportation)

When the I-5 enters Oregon, it runs northeast along a ridge in the Siskiyou Mountains with a maximum gradient of 6% to Siskiyou Summit. At 4,310 feet, it is the highest point on the entire length of I-5; It is also one of the highest points on the Interstate Highway System. The 11-mile section of the highway is mountainous along the Siskiyou Pass. There are several runaway truck ramps and chaining areas. North of Summit I-5 through the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.

On its way through Oregon, I-5 runs 308.14 miles. The route chosen for I-5 is west of the Cascade Mountains and connects Portland to Salem, Eugene, Medford and other major cities in the Willamette Valley and across the northern Siskiyou Mountains.

Interstate 5 is the second longest freeway in Oregon and the only freeway that runs north to south through the state. The freeway connects several of the state’s largest metropolitan areas, which are located in the Willamette and Rogue Valleys. In addition, I-5 runs through counties with more than 80% of Oregon’s population.

The I-5 was designated in 1957 and replaced US Route 99 (US 99) for most of its length. The interstate contained early bypasses and expressways built for US 99 in the 1950s. The Marquam Bridge in Portland was the last segment of the I-5 built in Oregon. The bridge opened in October 1966 and the highway was inaugurated later that month. The freeway runs parallel to or at the same time as Oregon Route 99 (OR 99) and its stubs.

The Marquand Bridge was built in 1964. (Photo: portlandoregon.gov)

I-5 continues north to Eugene. It crosses the Whilamut Passage Bridge, a pair of concrete arch bridges that span 1,985 feet across the Willamette River west of downtown Springfield.

I-5 enters Multnomah County and Portland, Oregon’s largest city. In the neighborhood of South Burlingame, I-5 makes a fish-hook curve through the Terwilliger Curves, a dangerous section of the highway that changes direction five times within a mile.

The I-5 continues on its northeast course and crosses the Willamette River on the Marquam Bridge, which connects two sides of Portland. The Marquam Bridge is two-story; The lanes to the north are on the upper deck and the lanes to the south are on the lower deck. It’s also the busiest intersection in Oregon.

In north Portland, the Interstate spans the Columbia River on the Interstate Bridge to Vancouver, Washington. The Interstate Bridge is considered inferior and traffic delays occur daily.

Interstate 5’s Interstate Bridge spans the Columbia River and connects Oregon and Washington. (Photo: Cascade Policy Institute)

Interstate 5 in Washington

As in Oregon, I-5 is the only freeway traveling north to south in Washington State. It is also Washington’s busiest highway. I-5 extends 277 miles in Washington. It runs from the Oregon border in Vancouver across the Puget Sound region to the Canadian border in Blaine.

An aerial view of the freeway bridge during Interstate 5 construction in Seattle, January 1961.
(Photo: University of Washington Digital Libraries Collection)

The interstate segment in downtown Seattle is one of the widest freeways in the United States. It has 13 lanes, including express lanes that reverse direction depending on the time of day. Most of I-5 is four lanes in the rural areas of the state and six to eight lanes in the suburbs. I-5 has three auxiliary interstates – I-205, I-405, and I-705.

The I-5 follows the path of several railways and wagon routes that were created during the settlement of the western part of the state in the mid to late 19th century. In 1913, a number of local roads were incorporated into the Pacific Highway connecting the state’s southern and northern borders. In 1926, the Pacific Highway became the northernmost section of US National Route 99.

The federal planners designated the I-5 in 1957. The first construction of the freeway was completed in Washington in 1969. Interstate 5 is the main drag for the western part of the state. Its course runs through the most densely populated areas of the state; About 70% of the state’s population lives in the nine counties served by I-5.

The section of I-5 through downtown Seattle is Washington’s busiest interstate. The daily average is almost 300,000 vehicles. As a result, and unfortunately, the I-5 route through the Seattle metropolitan area is one of the most congested US freeways.

The Interstate goes over the Interstate Bridge to Washington. The Interstate Bridge consists of two vertical lift bridges that span the Columbia River between Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington. Because of its elevators, the bridge is the only point on I-5 where vehicles have to stop for cross traffic.

Unlike areas in California and Oregon, Washington does not have sections of I-5 that have major classes that affect traffic.

Two different photos show I-5 passing the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington.
(Photo: Washington Department of Transportation)

Northwest of the town of Woodland, the median of the I-5 includes railroad tracks used by freight and Amtrak trains. East of the city of DuPont, the highway runs through Joint Base Lewis-McChord, an important military facility.

In Seattle, I-5 crosses I-90, the state’s main east-west freeway. North of the I-5 / I-90 interchange, the I-5 was built on an elevated viaduct over the international district of Seattle.

This photo shows US-Canada traffic on roads on either side of Peace Arch. (Photo: Peace Arch News)

When I-5 reaches Blaine (the northernmost town on I-5), a state road splits from the freeway to serve as an alternative border crossing for trucks and cargo. The course of I-5 runs on the northeastern edge of downtown Blaine. It ends when it reaches the Canadian border at Peace Arch.

The Peace Arch-Douglas intersection is the third largest port of entry on the border between the United States and Canada. In Canada, the highway continues north to Vancouver. It is referred to as Highway 99.