Expect severe congestion as northbound OR 217 is restricted to one lane starting July 21
The 11-day closure marks a major step in the OR 217 improvement project which will make a safer and more reliable highway
Expect major delays when one lane of northbound OR 217 closes for 11 days starting July 21.
June 29, 2023
Contact: Don Hamilton, 503-704-7452
Travelers should expect severe congestion along the southern end of 217 and Interstate 5 leading up to OR 217 in both directions starting July 21 when an 11-day lane closure starts between I-5 and OR 99W.
The closures mark a major step in the OR 217 Auxiliary Lanes Project, which will improve safety and reduce bottlenecks by adding auxiliary lanes – ramp-to-ramp connections -- between Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway and OR 99W.
Starting Friday night July 21, ODOT crews will restrict a three-quarter-mile section of northbound OR 217 to one lane, starting at the I-5 interchange and ending near the OR 99W interchange. The closure will allow crews to build a stronger foundation for future auxiliary lanes in this area.
The closures won’t extend onto I-5 but will have an impact on northbound and southbound I-5 leading to OR 217.
The closures will be in place around-the-clock for 11 days until 5 a.m. Monday, July 31 and will cause slow travel speeds, delays and significant congestion on OR 217 and I-5.
Here are further closure details.
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The 72nd Avenue on-ramp to northbound OR 217 will close for the full 11 days from July 21 to July 31.
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Detour: Continue east on 72nd Avenue and turn left (west) on OR 99W. Then turn right on the OR 99W on-ramp to northbound OR 217.
- The off-ramp from northbound OR 217 to OR99W will close for four days starting Friday night, July 21 and reopen Monday morning, July 24.
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Detour: Continue north on OR 217 to the Greenburg Road off-ramp (Exit 5). Cross over the highway and turn left onto the on-ramp onto southbound OR 217 to the next exit, OR 99W.
The northbound OR 99W loop ramp onto northbound OR 217 that is now closed will reopen by July 21.
Travelers should plan ahead during this closure. Consider traveling during off hours or finding alternate routes to avoid the heavy congestion expected at the south end of OR 217 and I-5.
The project will construct auxiliary lanes in both directions of OR 217 between Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway and OR 99W. Auxiliary lanes are ramp-to-ramp connections that help reduce congestion by giving drivers more space and time to merge safely into the main highway. This decreases conflicts, improves safety and the flow of traffic and ultimately allows the existing lanes to work more efficiently.
After the project is finished in 2025, we expect to save travelers up to 73,000 hours of travel time a year with these improvements.
We aren't just making improvements to the highway. We’re also making the area surrounding OR 217 safer. In partnership with Beaverton and Washington County, we are making targeted improvements to local bicycle and pedestrian routes.
We’re extending the Fanno Creek Trail, widening the north sidewalk on the Denney Road overpass, and building sidewalks and bicycle lanes in both directions of Hall Boulevard from Cascade Avenue to Scholls Ferry Road. And we’re completing the north/south bicycle and pedestrian network.
Go to Tripcheck.com before you travel to plan your route and check congestion levels.
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