Talk:Harbor Drive

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[edit] History

Here's a 1950s map that shows it (either not as a freeway or badly-drawn): [1][2] It also shows Interstate Avenue as a freeway from the Steel Bridge to Tillamook Street; part of the Broadway Bridge interchange remains.

A 1954 USGS topo also shows that it is not a freeway; median breaks are at Clay, Columbia (US 26 east), Jefferson (US 26 west), and Pine. In 1946 its north end was at Front and Vine.

Dates on the remaining bridges are as follows:

  • 1934-35: improvements to Barbur Boulevard
  • 1946-49: Ross Island Bridge interchange, including Barbur Boulevard and Arthur Street
  • 1958: Hawthorne Bridge west end interchange
  • 1958: new Morrison Bridge including west end interchange (old one is shown on the maps)
  • 1950: south end of Steel Bridge
  • 1952: north end of Steel Bridge
  • 1949-50: Broadway Bridge east end interchange

So it looks like Harbor Drive was not a full freeway until about 1958? --NE2 15:59, 2 April 2008 (UTC)

Full freeway might be a stretch. It turned, jogged, and dipped every few blocks. There were buildings with near-zero clearance alongside. The lanes were narrow and the divider seemed to droop into the inner lane. The buildings were uninspired plain concrete slabs, butted against each other. It kinda felt like a semi-tunnel, or trench since you couldn't see the river, at least not from a car. Traffic moved along, like 35-45 mph, unlike the grid streets. Even in the day, I remember it being pretty busy. —EncMstr 18:42, 2 April 2008 (UTC)
Was there any cross traffic, or was everything handled by on- and off-ramps? --NE2 10:02, 3 April 2008 (UTC)