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In this email:
We are halfway through construction of this important safety project on OR 217. Our crew continues to work very hard out there - day and night - and our project completion timeline for the end of 2025 remains on track. A big thank you to travelers and project neighbors in the area for being patient.
Auxiliary lanes
Over the last two years, we’ve completed over 80% of the groundwork for the new auxiliary lanes along OR 217. In 2023, we focused on the areas near Hall Boulevard, Greenburg Road and OR 99W. Crews excavated old pavement and built up the foundations for the future auxiliary lane and safety shoulder. When the project is complete, we will have five miles of new auxiliary lanes.
 Building the future auxiliary lanes on OR 217.
A critical component of the auxiliary lane construction is ensuring that existing ramps and the lanes are aligned. Construction crews reconfigured on- and off-ramps so that they seamlessly connect to the new auxiliary lane when they are completed in future phases of the project.
 Crews reconfigured and rebuilt the OR 99W loop ramp onto OR 217 north.
New frontage road opens along southbound OR 217
The new southbound frontage road connecting the Allen Boulevard and Denney Road interchanges reduced the amount of merging on the highway, to reduce the crash rate and ease congestion. We opened this new traffic configuration in November 2023. Many months of construction included building a new bridge over Fanno Creek, excavating and paving the new connections to Allen Boulevard and Denney Road, pouring 2,000 tons of concrete, painting new lane striping, and installing new guardrail. To accommodate changes in traffic patterns, we also widened the Allen Boulevard off-ramp and the Denney Road on-ramp.
 (Left) The new frontage road in action. (Right) Ramp widening as part of the improvements in the Denney Road interchange.
Overpass construction
We are underway on improvements to several overpasses. Work to expand the Hall Boulevard overpass in Beaverton to add new sidewalk and bicycle lanes kicked into high gear this summer and will continue into 2024. So far, we’ve demolished the existing guardrail, built new support foundations, and set eight, 150-foot long concrete box beams. When it's done, the overpass will be 19 feet wider to provide space for sidewalks and bicycle lanes in both directions.
Crews also completed construction of new bridge railings and new protective screening on the Denney Road and Allen Boulevard overpasses.
 The expansion of the Hall Boulevard overpass in Beaverton is underway.
New walls along the highway
Along with the four completed sound walls along portions of the project area, we are constructing a series of retaining walls to secure slopes and soil along the future auxiliary lanes. So far, six of the nine retaining walls are complete.
 Completed retaining walls along the highway.
We've made a lot of progress over the last two years. There is still major work slated for the next two years.
Hall Boulevard overpass in Tigard
In 2024, we will rebuild the Hall Boulevard overpass between OR 99W and Pfaffle Street to make room for the new auxiliary lanes to pass underneath. This requires closing this overpass for nine months. A temporary bike and pedestrian bridge will be available, and we’ll provide a detour route for vehicles. When the new overpass is complete, it will include wider sidewalks and bike lanes, be earthquake resilient and ADA compliant. At the beginning of the 9-month closure, we're planning a weekend highway closure under the bridge in order to demolish the structure. We’ll share advance notice about detours and timing as we learn more from the contractor.
Hall Boulevard overpass in Beaverton
We plan to complete the widening of the Hall Boulevard overpass between Cascade Avenue and Scholls Ferry Road in spring 2024. Our partnership with the City of Beaverton and Washington County was critical in securing funding for this much-needed connection for people bicycling, walking and rolling across the highway.
Auxiliary Lanes
Auxiliary lane construction continues through 2024 with multiple traffic shifts in order for the contractor to have sufficient work space. The highway is expected to be in its final configuration and fully paved in 2025.
Additional work that will continue or take place over the next two years:
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Finish the new 12 ½ foot sidewalk on the Denney Road overpass to accommodate two-way bicycle and pedestrian traffic, expected in 2024.
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Retrofit bridge railing and add new protective screening on the Scholls Ferry Road overpass.
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Finish new stormwater system installation.
- Finish building all nine retaining walls.
- Final paving and striping at the end of the project in 2025.
The OR 217 Auxiliary Lanes 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 on the highway that help reduce congestion by giving drivers more space and time to merge safely. This decreases conflicts, improves safety and the flow of traffic, and ultimately allows the existing lanes to work more efficiently. We expect up to 73,000 hours of travel time saved each year with these improvements.
We aren't just making improvements to the highway itself. We also need to make the area surrounding OR 217 safer for all users. In partnership with the City of Beaverton and Washington County, we are making targeted improvements to local bicycle and pedestrian routes.
Learn more about this project and stay up-to-date with current traffic impacts by visiting the project website.
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