Oregon Route 43

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For the unsigned Highway 43, see Monmouth-Independence Highway.
Oregon Route 43
Length: 11.60 mi (18.69 km)
Formed: 1939
South end: OR 99E in Oregon City
Major
junctions:		 I-205 in West Linn
North end: I-5 and US 26 in Portland
Oregon highways (lists: Routes - Highways)
< OR 42S OR 46 >

Oregon Route 43 is an Oregon state highway that runs between the cities of Oregon City and Portland, mostly along the western flank of the Willamette River. While it is technically known by the Oregon Department of Transportation as the Oswego Highway No. 3 (see Oregon highways and routes), on maps it is referred to by its route number or by the various street names it has been given.

Contents

[edit] Route description

The southern terminus of Oregon Route 43 is at a junction with Oregon Route 99E in downtown Oregon City. From there, it runs east for two blocks, along the couplet of Main and Railroad streets, and then turns north and crosses the Willamette River on the historic Oregon City Bridge, entering the city of West Linn. Almost immediately on the West Linn side of the river is an interchange with Interstate 205. It continues north through West Linn (where it is called Willamette Drive), providing service to numerous neighborhoods and business districts. Due to constrained geography (the city is mostly located on the sides of a steep slope) and encroaching homes and businesses, the route is only a two-lane road in many stretches.

North of West Linn, the highway passes by Marylhurst University, and enters the city of Lake Oswego. In the southern portions of Lake Oswego, Route 43 is given the street name of Pacific Highway, a designation that usually refers to Oregon Route 99 (the highway is a historic routing of U.S. Route 99). Soon after, the route crosses over Oswego Creek and enters downtown Lake Oswego, where it is known as State Street. The Willamette Shore Trolley begins here, and parallels Oregon Route 43 as both head north into Portland.

North of downtown Lake Oswego, OR 43 acquires the name Riverside Drive, and enters a three-lane section (two main lanes and a climbing lane) as it climbs over a hill overlooking the Willamette River. This stretch of OR 43 passes by some of the most exclusive and wealthy neighborhoods (Dunthorpe, Riverwood, Riverdale) in the Portland area. The highway soon enters the city of Portland, where it is known as Macadam Avenue.

Macadam Avenue passes alongside the river for several miles, sandwiched between the river on the east and River View Cemetery on the west. It also passes near (and provides access to) Lewis & Clark College. Near the northern end of the cemetery is an interchange with the Sellwood Bridge, at which point OR 43 becomes a four-lane divided thoroughfare. Soon afterwards, the highway enters the Johns Landing neighborhood, a narrow strip of homes, parks and businesses located between the river and Interstate 5, high on the hill above it. The area is home to Oregon Public Broadcasting and the Portland offices and studios of Clear Channel Communications. Oregon Route 43 and the freeway run parallel for several miles until an interchange with I-5 and U.S. Route 26 near the Ross Island Bridge.

[edit] Cities and towns along the route

  • Oregon City
  • West Linn
  • Lake Oswego
  • Portland

[edit] History

What is now Oregon Route 43 was once the original route of U.S. Route 99 in the south Portland area. Now, Oregon Route 99E is routed on the east side of the river (through Oregon City, Gladstone, and Milwaukie); and OR 99W is routed further west (through Tigard, Sherwood, and Newberg).

Oregon Route 212, which used to run as far west as the Sherwood/King City area, was concurrent with Oregon Route 43 across the Oregon City/West Linn bridge. This old alignment of OR 212 still exists, running west along Willamette Falls Drive, just north of the bridge (and just south of the interchange with I-205), continuing on to Tualatin.

[edit] Major intersections

Note: mileposts do not reflect actual mileage due to realignments.
County Location Mile[1] Destinations Notes
Clackamas Oregon City 11.66 5th Street (OR 99E)
11.43 Oregon City Bridge over the Willamette River
West Linn
11.32 Willamette Falls Drive – Willamette area
11.17 I-205 – Salem Interchange
Lake Oswego 6.13 Avenue A to Iron Mountain Boulevard, Country Club Road – Lake Grove
Multnomah Portland 2.71 OR 99E / Sellwood Bridge Interchange
2.20 Taylors Ferry Road to Terwilliger Boulevard – Lewis and Clark College
0.60 To I-5 north – South Waterfront Southbound U-turn ramp
0.59 I-5 south – Salem Interchange; southbound exit and northbound entrance
0.13 I-5 north to I-84 east – Seattle Interchange; northbound exit and southbound entrance
0.08 I-5 south / US 26 east (Ross Island Bridge) – Salem Northbound U-turn ramp
0.00 US 26 west – Portland City Center Interchange; northbound exit and southbound entrance

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Oregon Department of Transportation, Public Road Inventory (primarily the Digital Video Log), accessed March 2008
  2. ^ River View Cemetery, Portland, Oregon - Henry Corbett

[edit] External links