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We are six days into our 11-day closure on one of two southbound lanes and the southbound Hall Boulevard on-ramp. Crews are making good progress, reinforcing the highway shoulder on southbound OR 217 in Beaverton between SW Hall Boulevard and SW Scholls Ferry Road. Next up is continuing to place new rock base and repaving before reopening Monday morning.
We know that it is tough out there and we’ve seen some long back-ups throughout the area. Thanks for driving safely and being patient. Closing the highway lane and the ramp are key to keeping crews and travelers safe and provide enough room to get the work done. Here’s a snapshot of some of the construction activities taking place so far.
 Crews are removing the existing southbound shoulder material and then building it back up with a stronger base. Dump trucks are lined up and ready to haul away the old pavement and top level of soil.
 This view under the SW Scholls Ferry Road overpass shows the limited space that crews have to work in when building the new auxiliary lane. Closing one southbound lane on OR 217 is critical to providing a safe work zone, for crews and the traveling public.
 Crews are grinding the asphalt from the shoulder surface and removing soil before installing a layer of rock to create a solid base for the future auxiliary lane.
 The future auxiliary lane is starting to take shape near the southbound OR 217 on-ramp from SW Scholls Ferry Road.
As a reminder, here’s what you need to know about the lane and ramp closure:
- They are expected to reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 19.
- People on Hall Boulevard that would normally use the closed ramp are following a signed detour to SW Scholls Ferry Road and to the southbound on-ramp.
- The southbound OR 217 off-ramps to SW Hall Boulevard and SW Scholls Ferry Road are open.
Plan for delays on the highway and surrounding area. If you can, please limit the amount you use OR 217, combine trips and/or shift your travel time away from the morning and evening commute. Check Tripcheck.com before you leave for up-to-date traffic impacts.
Please be aware of other construction projects happening nearby as you plan your travel route. Willamette Water Supply has lane closures on SW Scholls Ferry Road between SW Hall Boulevard and SW Denney Road for the Metzger Pipeline East Project. The City of Beaverton has closed the intersection of SW Allen Boulevard and SW 92nd Avenue for construction of a concrete roundabout.
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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