BANFIELD EXPRESSWAY

The 'T.H. Banfield Expressway' is the portion of Interstate 84 between its western terminus at Interstate 5 and its intersection at Interstate 205 in Portland, Oregon, United States. The expressway is named for T.H. Banfield, a former Oregon state highway commissioner.

Contents

Planning and construction

References

See also

Planning and construction

Prior to the creation of the Banfield, surface streets were the only routes from Portland to the country. By the 1950s, the system of surface streets were outdated and city planners were looking for more efficient traffic routes. Under President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the federal government had started providing federal assistance to expressway projects. As a result, planners designed a freeway system in Portland to modernize its outdated system of surface streets. The first step to building this new freeway system was to construct the Banfield, which would stretch from Portland to Troutdale. On October 1, 1955, the Banfield Expressway opened to traffic. It was Oregon's first freeway.^[1]
The highway was rebuilt during the 1980's and the MAX Light Rail line was added along the north side.

References

1. Banfield offers entry to new era Catherine Trevinson

See also

★ Adopt a Highway

★ Freeway

★ Interstate Highway System

★ Interstate Highway System chronology

★ List of major freeway systems

★ List of roads and highways

★ Mile-log

★ Proposed Interstate Highways