Project Purpose and Need
The purpose of the project is to improve operations
and safety on Hwy 213 from the north end of the project limits at the I-205 interchange, to the south end of the project
limits at Hwy 213 mile point (MP) 0.57 (located south of the Hwy 213/Washington Street/Clackamas River Drive signalized intersection).
Improvements are needed in order to:
- Maintain acceptable
operational and safety levels on Hwy 213 and the I-205 interchange. This section of Hwy 213 is designated as an expressway
and serves as an important north-south transportation facility in the southeast Portland metropolitan area.
- Avoid or minimize instances of traffic on Hwy 213 backing up from the Hwy 213/Washington
Street/Clackamas River Drive intersection onto the I-205 interchange and the mainline freeway.
- Allow for growth and economic development on adjacent Regional Center property as outlined in the 2040 Metro
Plan; planned employment and residential development within two urban growth boundary (UGB) areas; and economic development
opportunities of industrial lands around Clackamas Community College and in the Beavercreek Road areas, which are within the
city limits of Oregon City, and the UGB of the Portland metropolitan area.
The project is needed for the following reasons:
- Current traffic demands frequently exceed the capacity of Hwy 213 through the project
area. This creates traffic backups on Hwy 213 at both the Hwy 213/Washington Street/Clackamas River Drive intersection and
the Hwy 213/Redland Road intersection, which occasionally extend into the I-205 interchange and onto the freeway itself.
- Highway speeds (posted at 45 mph and 55 mph) combined with signalized intersections
and high traffic volumes increase the risk of accidents. This section of highway has a Safety Investment Program (SIP) rating
of 3. The signalized intersections of Hwy 213/Washington Street/Clackamas River Drive and Hwy 213/Redland Road are in the
top 10 percent of Safety Priority Index System (SPIS) sites.
- The
area immediately adjacent to and surrounding this section of Hwy 213 is within the city limits of Oregon City and the
urban growth boundary of the Portland metropolitan area. This area has capacity for continued development, which will add
to the traffic demands on Hwy 213 and exacerbate the current safety and operational problems along the Hwy 213 transportation
system and further impact safety and operations of the I-205/Hwy 213 interchange.
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