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Exit 299A, Macadam Avenue/ Ross Island Bridge, and the northern terminus of Oregon 43. The Ross Island bridge carries U.S. 26 across the Willamette River. Stay left for exit 299B, I-405 northbound and U.S. 26 westbound. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (10/30/05). |
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A view of the exit 299A exit ramp. After exiting, head north on Macadam Avenue/ Oregon 43 and follow a maze-like route with multiple turns (don't say I didn't
warn you!) to the Ross Island Bridge/ U.S. 26 eastbound. The interchange website Where Roads Meet
has a description and good aerial view of the complicated approach to the Ross Island Bridge from exit 299A. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (10/30/05). |
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This sign advises airport-bound travelers to keep right (and thus remain on Interstate 5). Photo taken by Matt Strieby (10/30/05). |
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Just south of downtown, Interstate 405 branches off from Interstate 5 at this unusual directional T interchange. What's unusual is that, at least from the perspective of northbound I-5, the west side of the "T" is formed by I-405, but the east side is just the "continuation" of I-5. Technically, northbound I-5 doesn't exit off of itself, but it seems that way. Left lanes take the directional exit (exit 299B) and carry traffic along Interstate 405 northbound through downtown Portland. Take I-405 to junction with U.S. 26/ Sunset Highway westbound to Beaverton, Hillsboro, and the Oregon coast. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (06/26/05). |
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Keep right to stay on Interstate 5 and cross the Willamette River. The junction with Interstate 84 eastbound to The Dalles is at exit 300. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (10/30/05). |
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The Portland skyline comes into partial view just after the split with I-405. Now just two lanes wide and rising quickly to the Marquam Bridge, northbound I-5 seems more like a wide ramp than a freeway. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (10/30/05). |
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Here's proof that the sun does shine in Portland. Unfortunately, the downtown skyline is somewhat obscured to northbound traffic. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (07/19/05). |
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A view of the Marquam Bridge which carries I-5 across the Willamette River. Northbound traffic travels on the upper deck. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (07/19/05). |
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Now on the top deck of the Marquam Bridge, motorists are greeted with this advance sign for exit 300, Interstate 84 eastbound. Lanes merging at right from southbound I-405 widen the freeway. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (07/19/05). |
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Take exit 300 for the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) , which is announced on a tacked-on brown tab at the top of the sign bridge. After exiting, a separate ramp will branch from the main and exit to Water Avenue. Turn right on Water for OMSI. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (10/30/05). |
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Portland is a city of bridges; the Willamette River divides the city into eastern and western sections. Visible in the center of the photo is the saddle-shaped Rose Garden Arena, home to the NBA Portland Trailblazers. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (07/19/05). |
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Exit 300, Interstate 84/ U.S. 30 eastbound to The Dalles. The Dalles is 84 miles away at the eastern end of the Columbia River Gorge. Interstate 5 in Portland is I-84's western terminus. The Fremont Bridge (I-405) is visible in the far background. The closer bridge is the Morrison Bridge. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (07/19/05). |
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Still descending from the Marquam Bridge, the Rose Garden Arena is visible directly ahead. The black bridge at left is the Steel Bridge, which, according to portlandbridges.com ,is one of the only examples of a dual lift bridge in the world. Finished in 1912, the bridge's lower deck can be lifted independently of the upper deck. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (10/30/05). |
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Once off the Marquam Bridge at milepost 301, northbound I-5 enters a labyrinth of overpasses and flyover ramps. Except for some auxiliary lanes, northbound traffic will now be squeezed into two lanes until just past the northern interchange with I-405. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (10/30/05). |
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I-5 northbound passes under the knot of ramps taking traffic to and from the Morrison Bridge. There is no direct access to the bridge from northbound I-5; the ramps originate mostly from surface streets and the bridge itself. The Morrison Bridge connects west side Washington and Alder streets with east side Morrison and Belmont streets. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (10/30/05). |
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Directly in front in this view is the Burnside Bridge (Burnside Street is Portland's north-south divider arterial). To the left and right, you can see elevated lanes ferrying traffic to and from Interstate 84. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (07/19/05). |
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The advance sign for exit 302A, Rose Quarter/ Broadway and Weidler Street is mounted on the Burnside Bridge. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (10/30/05). |
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Northbound I-5 passes under the flyover ramp bringing traffic from westbound I-84 to southbound I-5. The flyover just beyond does pretty much the opposite: it carries traffic from southbound I-5 to eastbound I-84. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (07/19/05). |
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The spires of the Oregon Convention Center dominate the east side view along this stretch of I-5. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (07/19/05). |
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Take exit 302A for the Oregon Convention Center and Lloyd Center (a shopping mall). The ramp merging from westbound I-84 at right will briefly add an auxiliary lane. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (10/30/05). |
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Exit 302A: Rose Quarter/ Broadway and Weidler Street. Portland's Rose Quarter consists of the Rose Garden Arena (completed 1995), home of the Portland Trailblazers, and the older Memorial Coliseum. The Western Hockey League Portland Winterhawks split their home games between the two arenas. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (10/30/05). |
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Advance sign for exit 302B, Interstate 405 southbound and U.S. 30 westbound. Visible at right is the auxiliary lane that will exit the freeway at exit 302A. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (10/30/05). |
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Exit 302A gore point sign and exit ramp. The exit leads to Weidler Street (one-way eastbound) and Broadway (one-way westbound). Turn right on Weidler for The Rose Quarter, Oregon Convention Center, and Lloyd Center. Turning left on Broadway takes you over the Broadway Bridge into northwest Portland. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (10/30/05). |
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Crossing the Fremont Bridge via southbound I-405 and exiting with westbound U.S. 30 leads to industrial areas in northwest Portland, as this sign indicates. Though there is still a fair amount of industry present, some areas of former light industrial and warehouse sites, such as the Pearl District , have been converted to high-density housing and artsy commercial developments. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (10/30/05). |
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Northbound I-5 passes under the Flint Avenue overpass as it approaches exit 302B. Sign at left announces the upcoming HOV lane. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (10/30/05). |
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An entrance ramp merging from Williams Avenue will add an auxiliary lane which will quickly leave the freeway at exit 302C. Keep left to remain on I-5 northbound. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (10/30/05). |
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Advance sign for exit 302C, Greeley Avenue and Swan Island. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (10/30/05). |
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Northbound I-5 reaches exit 302B, Interstate 405 southbound and U.S. 30 westbound. I-405 southbound begins here and heads over the Fremont Bridge before taking its short loop through downtown. Westbound U.S. 30 exits from I-405 at the west end of the bridge and heads through the industrial district on Yeon Avenue, eventually turning northwest to follow the Columbia River. St. Helens is a small town on U.S. 30 north of Portland. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (10/30/05). |
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Two views of exit 302C, Greeley Avenue/ Swan Island. Swan Island is really a peninsula, but it was an island before industrial build-up filled in its southern end. It is the home of the Port of Portland Swan Island Industrial Park . Photos taken 7/19/05 and Photo taken by Matt Strieby (10/30/05). Photo taken |
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Northbound Interstate 5 passes under its last tangle of flyover ramps, these ferrying traffic to and from the Fremont Bridge. Completed in 1973, the two-level Fremont Bridge is Portland's newest bridge across the Willamette River, though these ramps look like they could use some maintenance. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (10/30/05). |
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Having cleared the heart of the city, northbound I-5 begins its final Oregon stretch, heading through Portland's north side neighborhoods. Most of the freeway through this stretch is below grade. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (10/30/05). |
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Advance sign for exit 303, Killingsworth Street, and, in case you missed it back at exit 302C, Swan Island. Northbound I-5 will finally widen to at least three lanes past this point, though one of them is an HOV lane. Second image shows the same sign bridge as seen from approach lanes merging with I-5 from I-405/ Fremont Bridge. Photos taken by Matt Strieby (7/19/05 and 11/19/05). |
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The HOV lane begins as northbound Interstate 5 approaches the Failing Street pedestrian bridge. The lane is only restricted on weekdays during peak commute times. The Advance sign indicates that Alberta Street and Interstate Avenue may be accessed at the next right (exit 303). Interstate Avenue is several blocks to the west of the freeway where it runs a parallel course with I-5 through north Portland. The Interstate MAX light rail also travels down the center of Interstate Avenue. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (01/08/05). |
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Exit 303, Killingsworth Street/Swan Island. This two-lane exit ramp passes under the Skidmore Street overpass and then the lanes diverge. Take the left lane for westbound Going Street to Swan Island; use the right lane to continue north toward Alberta and Killingsworth streets. The exit sign may lead to the assumption that Killingsworth Street will be reached directly after exiting the freeway. In fact, it is a half-mile north of the interchange and is accessed via a collector/distributor lane. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (01/08/05). |
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Going Street, which leads to the Swan Island Industrial Park, passes over Interstate 5. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (01/08/05). |
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View of overhead signs on the Alberta Street overpass. Take exit 304 to reach Portland Community College-Cascade. PCC is actually closer to Killingsworth Street, but this may be an easier route. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (01/08/05). |
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A half-mile after the signed exit to Killingsworth Street, I-5 finally passes under the Killingsworth overpass. Right hand sign advises of approaching exit 304/ Portland Boulevard. Mileage sign at left gives distances to Lombard Street, Columbia Boulevard, and MLK Jr. Boulevard. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (01/08/05). |
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Advance sign on the Ainsworth Street overpass for exits 305A and 305B. Exit 304, Portland Boulevard, is visible just beyond the overpass. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (01/08/05). |
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Exit 304, Portland Boulevard. Despite the grand-sounding "boulevard" designation, it is actually a minor arterial street that runs east and west through residential neighborhoods in north Portland. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (01/08/05). |
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Northbound I-5 passes under the Portland Boulevard overpass. Portland International Airport may be reached by taking exit 305A, Lombard Street eastbound (U.S. 30 bypass). Eastbound Lombard Street becomes the Portland Highway, which eventually intersects with Oregon 213/ 82nd Avenue just south of the airport. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (01/08/05). |
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The University of Portland may be reached by taking exit 305B, Lombard Street westbound. The array of services heralded by the blue portion of the sign refers to the string of commercial properties that line Lombard Street in this part of the city. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (11/19/05). |
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Exit 305A, Lombard Street eastbound (US 30 bypass). Back in the days before the Banfield Freeway (I-80N/84 and U.S. 30), U.S. 30 followed two primary routes in Portland: the business route split from the bypass in Parkrose and followed Sandy Boulevard into the heart of the city where it crossed the Burnside Bridge into downtown. The bypass route followed Portland Highway/ Lombard Street along the northern shoulder of Portland, crossing the Willamette over the beautiful St. Johns Bridge. The two branches rejoined at the western end of the St. Johns Bridge. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (01/08/05). |
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Exit 305B, Lombard Street westbound. Lombard is the primary east-west arterial surface street in north Portland. Heading west leads to the St. Johns Bridge via Philadelphia Avenue, or you may continue on Lombard to reach Kelley Point Park, located at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (01/08/05). |
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By the time it reaches exit 306A (Columbia Boulevard) I-5 has risen above grade. This overhead sign is actually posted just past the point where the freeway crosses over Columbia Boulevard: the exit ramp does a 180 and ends up heading south, terminating at its destination. Columbia Boulevard travels through mostly commercial/ light industrial areas situated south of the Columbia River and its route isn't the least bit scenic. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (11/19/05). |
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Advance sign for exit 307, Delta Park/ Marine Drive. Oregon 99E is Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, though the street is not mentioned on the sign. Marine Drive more or less follows the south bank of the Columbia River from north Portland eastward to Troutdale. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (11/19/05). |
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Exit 306B, Expo Center. Turn left at the bottom of the exit ramp (Victory Boulevard) for the Portland Metro Expo Center . Turn right (Whitaker Road) for the Portland Meadows Golf Course and Race Track. "Rivergate T-6" (left hand sign) translates as the Port of Portland's Rivergate Industrial Park Terminal 6. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (01/08/05). |
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Exit 307, Oregon 99E, Delta Park and Marine Drive. After exiting, traffic is routed down a long distributor lane. The far left lane of northbound I-5 lane will lose its HOV designation just after exit 307. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (11/19/05). |
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The distributor lane from exit 307 is visible at right in the first image. The lane splits and gives motorists a choice for Marine Drive westbound and MLK Jr. Boulevard (Oregon 99E) or Marine Drive eastbound/ Delta Park. Second photo shows the same sign bridge 10 months later. Notice that a drawbridge warning sign has replaced the digital sign in the first image, though it is unclear why the bottom text (which probably says "Prepare To Stop When Lights Flashing") is blanked out. The digital sign was originally in place to alert motorists of bridge maintenance that took place earlier in 2005. Photos taken by Matt Strieby (01/8/05 and 11/19/05). |
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Advance sign for exit 308, Jantzen Beach. Despite "beach" in the name, this isn't a recreational area. Jantzen Beach Supercenter , which boasts a shopping mall, strip malls, and other commercial properties, is the main destination. Oregon has no sales tax, so parking lots are filled with cars bearing Washington plates. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (11/19/05). |
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Northbound Interstate 5 reaches its final Oregon exit, exit 308, Jantzen Beach. Commercial properties line both sides of Interstate 5 as northbound motorists prepare to cross the Columbia River into the Evergreen State. Mileage for leading western Washington cities- Olympia, Tacoma, and Seattle- is now posted. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (11/19/05). |
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Approaching the Interstate Bridge, a sign thanks motorists for visiting Oregon. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (11/06/05). |
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Though still in Oregon, these signs announcing Vancouver exits are clearly of WS-DOT origin. Notice the lack of a separate exit number tab on the sign at right- typical format for Washington freeway signs. Interstate 5 now crosses the Interstate Bridge into Washington. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (11/06/05). |
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The Interstate Bridge is very old and in need of replacement. The oldest span (these views) dates to 1917, while the "newer" southbound span, built to match it, dates to 1958. Both spans are drawbridges. Prior to the construction of I-5, The 1917 span carried the Pacific Highway (later U.S. 99) across the Columbia. Before that, a ferry handled the job of connecting Portland with Vancouver. Photos taken by Matt Strieby (11/19/05). |
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Northbound Interstate 5 enters Washington and the city of Vancouver. Photo taken by Matt Strieby (11/06/05). |
Page Updated November 29, 2005.
