Exit 209 Interchange Plan

The Interchange Area Management Plan (IAMP) for the Interstate‐84 (I‐84) / US 395 Interchange is a strategic and dynamic transportation plan that is designed to protect the long‐term function of the I‐84/US 395 interchange by preserving the capacity of the interchange while providing safe and efficient operations between connecting roadways. The IAMP identifies land use management strategies, short‐, medium‐, and long‐term transportation improvements, access management plans, and strategies to fund identified improvements.

The project consists of two major components: 1) rebuilding the intersections near the interchange and 2) extending local streets to provide alternate routes for traffic than Southgate.

1. Interchange Improvements

The current configuration of the Southgate Interchange create frequent and dangerous backups of freight and passenger traffic onto westbound lanes of I-84. The project will address this issue by reconstructing the interchange on the north side of I-84 between Southgate (US 395) and connecting roadways that provide access to and from highly used westbound lanes of the interstate. The project will relocate the existing on- and off-ramps from a non-signalized intersection to a new signalized intersection aligning with US 395 and all local streets, widen state and local streets with expanded capacity, implement signalized intersection and capacity upgrades for a local intersection, and provide access control to state highway and local streets. The project also improves safety and facilities for all modes of transportation through the interchange area by adding a separated bike and pedestrian path, as well as ADA compliant sidewalks, raised cut-through islands, 56 sidewalk ramps, and signal push buttons. Bike lanes will also be added to side streets that currently have none.

As a result, traffic will flow freely to and from downtown Pendleton along Southgate (US 395) and arterial roadways, while on- and off-ramp improvements to a signalized regulated intersection will eliminate current safety hazards from congestion backups of freight and passenger vehicles onto the interstate.

2. SW Perkins Extension 

The second component of this project would extend SW Perkins Avenue, an existing local street southeast of the Southgate Interchange. Currently, local residential traffic from the southeast area of Pendleton can only reach daily destinations by traveling through the intersections of the Southgate Interchange. The only other east-west connection lies several miles to the south.

As identified in the I-84/US 395 Interchange Area Management Plan, the extension of Perkins Avenue to Tutuilla Road would provide an alternative, more direct east-west connection for community traffic, helping alleviate pressure on the interchange. This extension will offer a complete, alternate route for the southeast area of Pendleton, which currently can only reach other destinations by traveling through the Southgate and Tutuilla Road intersection directly south of the interchange. An extended SW Perkins Avenue will also provide new access to existing developed areas and approximately 100 acres of undeveloped residential zoned land needed for additional homes.