Oregon Route 99

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Oregon Route 99 is a state highway that runs between the southern border of Oregon, and the city of Junction City. Oregon Route 99 was formed from parts of the former U.S. Route 99; it shares much of its route with Interstate 5, but much of it is also independent. Between Portland and Junction City, the highway is forked into two routes: Oregon Route 99E and Oregon Route 99W.

[edit] Route description

Oregon Route 99 technically starts at an interchange with Interstate 5 at exit 11, south of Ashland. There it departs from the freeway, running parallel to I-5 as it passes through the cities of Ashland (as Main Street), Talent, Phoenix, and Medford. The highway rejoins I-5 at exit 34, just Northwest of Central Point.

OR-99 departs from I-5 several more times through the mountains of southern Oregon, only to rejoin again a short distance later. Junctions are found in Gold Hill (2nd Ave), Grants Pass, between Myrtle Creek and Sutherlin (crossing I-5 in Roseburg, Oregon), through Drain and Yoncalla, and Cottage Grove and Goshen. These departures serve as business routes for I-5, as Oregon does not have or sign Interstate business routes.

When it reaches Eugene, OR 99 departs from I-5 for a final time. It heads west into downtown, along Franklin Boulevard past the University of Oregon. Downtown, OR 99 is on the 6th and 7th Avenue couplet. (Much of the section in Eugene is co-signed with either Oregon Route 126 or OR 126 Business.) West of downtown it heads north on an expressway alignment, which continues to Junction City. In Junction City, OR 99 ends, as it splits into eastern and western forks.

[edit] Highways comprised

OR 99 comprises the following highways and roads, from south to north:

• The Rogue Valley Highway, which is Highway 63;
• Part of the Pacific Highway, which is Highway 1 (concurrent with I-5);
• The Gold Hill Spur, which is no longer a state highway;
• The Sams Valley Highway, which is Highway 271 (concurrent with OR 234);
• The Rogue River Highway, which is Highway 60;
• Part of the Redwood Highway, which is Highway 25;
• Part of the Pacific Highway (concurrent with I-5);
• Part of Fifth Street in Canyonville;
• Part of the Tiller-Trail Highway, which is Highway 230;
• Part of the Pacific Highway (concurrent with I-5);
• The Myrtle Creek Highway, which is no longer a state highway;
• Part of the Pacific Highway (concurrent with I-5);
• The Dillard Highway, which is no longer a state highway;
• Part of the Coos Bay-Roseburg Highway, which is Highway 35 (concurrent with OR 42);
• The Oakland-Shady Highway, which is no longer a state highway (concurrent with OR 138);
• Part of the Pacific Highway (concurrent with I-5);
• The Drain-Yoncalla Highway, which is no longer a state highway;
• Part of the Umpqua Highway, which is Highway 45;
• Part of the Pacific Highway (concurrent with I-5);
• The Goshen-Divide Highway, which is Highway 226;
• Part of the Pacific Highway (concurrent with I-5); and
• Part of the Pacific Highway West, which is Highway 1W(91).

[edit] Cities and towns along the route

• Junction City
• Eugene
• Creswell
• Cottage Grove
• Drain
• Yoncalla
• Oakland
• Sutherlin
• Roseburg
• Winston
• Myrtle Creek
• Grants Pass
• Rogue River
• Central Point
• Medford
• Talent
• Phoenix
• Ashland

[edit] Intersections with other highways

• Interstate 5 in many places; much of the route is shared with I-5, as well
• OR 99E and OR 99W in Junction City
• OR 36 south of Junction City
• Oregon Route 569 (Beltline Highway) in Eugene
• OR 126 and OR 126 Business in Eugene
• Interstate 105 in Eugene
• OR 58 south of Eugene
• OR 38 in Drain
• OR 138 intermittently between Sutherlin and Roseburg (some segments shared)
• OR 42 around Winston (a segment shared)
• OR 227 near Canyonville
• OR 238 and U.S. Highway 199 in Grants Pass
• OR 234 near Gold Hill
• OR 62 and OR 238 again in Medford
• OR 66 in Ashland

[edit] External links

• ODOT - Descriptions of US and Oregon Routes, pages 12-13