New lane open on I-205 south in Oregon

PORTLAND — A new lane on Interstate 205 southbound opened Wednesday as part of an Oregon Department of Transportation project to improve safety on the highway from Johnson Creek Boulevard to the Glenn Jackson Bridge.

The new auxiliary lane provides a direct lane from the eastbound Interstate 84 exit to Interstate 205 south and the Division Street-Powell Boulevard exit.

ODOT says about 25 percent of traffic on I-205 heading south coming from I-84 eastbound is bound for Exit 19. Such lanes, according to ODOT, help reduce bottlenecks by providing traffic a direct connection from one interchange ramp to another, saving drivers from weaving into the main thrust of freeway traffic.

The new southbound auxiliary lane is one of three new auxiliary lanes along I-205 between Johnson Creek and the Glenn Jackson Bridge under construction.

The work will continue this year, and will include finishing a northbound auxiliary lane from I-84 eastbound to the Killingsworth Street exit, constructing a third auxiliary lane on I-205 northbound between Powell Boulevard and I-84 westbound, and installing new electronic signs.

The work is scheduled for completion at the end of this year.