Oregon Route 18

Oregon Route 18 is a state highway that runs between the Oregon Coast, near Lincoln City, and Newberg. OR 18 traverses the Salmon River Highway No. 39 of the Oregon state highway system,[1] named after the river alongside its westernmost segments.

Oregon Route 18 marker

Oregon Route 18

Route 18; mainline in red, business route in blue
Route information
Maintained by ODOT
Existed1932–present
Component
highways
Salmon River Highway No. 39
Major junctions
West end US 101 in Otis Junction
Major intersections
East end OR 219 near Newberg
Location
CountryUnited States
StateOregon
CountiesLincoln, Tillamook, Polk, Yamhill
Highway system
OR 11 OR 19

Route description

Oregon 18 interchange from US 101 north in Otis Junction

OR 18 begins (at its western terminus) at a junction with U.S. Route 101, a few miles north of Lincoln City near Otis Junction. From there it winds eastward though the coast range along the Salmon River, past Rose Lodge and through a stand of timber known as the Van Duzer Corridor. Emerging from the coast range, it enters the fringes of the Willamette Valley in the community of Grand Ronde. It is briefly joined by Oregon Route 22 at a location known as Valley Junction, and overlaps OR 22 in a four-mile (6 km) stretch between Grand Ronde and Willamina, at which point OR 22 splits southeast towards Salem and OR 18 continues northeast towards the Portland area. Also in Willamina, a business route veers to the north to serve the cities of Willamina and Sheridan; east of Sheridan the business route rejoins the mainline. This business loop was the former route and highway until 1957, when the current Oregon Route 18 was built as a bypass.

Oregon 18 interchange from US 101 south in Otis Junction

The highway continues northeast on a straight and level course through Willamette Valley farmland, including the community of Bellevue which intersects with Oregon Route 153, until it intersects with Oregon Route 99W just south of McMinnville. In the McMinnville area, OR 99W serves as the primary business route (entering the downtown core) whereas OR 18 is a bypass route. Two interchanges along OR 18 provide access to McMinnville, including Three-Mile Lane, a spur of the highway. Oregon Route 18 provides direct access to the McMinnville Airport and the Evergreen Aviation Museum, home of the Spruce Goose. East of McMinnville, Oregon Route 18 intersects Oregon Route 233, with which it overlaps until its eastern terminus, and Oregon Route 221; the latter near the city of Dayton. It then crosses over the Yamhill River to a second junction with OR 99W. OR 18 then follows OR 99W to Dundee, and follows the Newberg-Dundee bypass and terminates at a junction with OR 219. Typically, commuters continue north on OR 99W into the Portland area.

History

The highway is rather variant in its configuration. For most of its length, the highway is a two-lane undivided highway, with intersections and cross traffic. There are some limited-access stretches in the "bypass" sections (around the Willamina/Sheridan area, and near McMinnville and Dayton), and the occasional interchange in these stretches. This section was proposed by the Oregon State Highway Commission in 1955 as part of the adoption of new routes bypassing city centers.[2]

In addition, there is a stretch between Willamina and Sheridan where the highway becomes a 4-lane divided expressway.

Oregon 18 approaching McMinnville

For several years, Route 18 has had a notorious reputation with Oregon motorists as an extremely unsafe highway with a relatively high number of fatal accidents. In 1995, the opening of two casinos in Grand Ronde and Lincoln City respectively, have greatly increased traffic on OR 18.

There are two completed expansions to the highway. One is a project which widened Oregon Route 18 to a four-lane expressway in the stretch between Grand Ronde and Willamina; an area where increased traffic (largely due to the casino) has caused significant delays. A later constructed overpass has closed down and blocked off a dangerous intersection.

The second project is a bypass around the Newberg-Dundee area intended to alleviate severe congestion that occurred along 99W. The Newberg-Dundee bypass is an expressway, numbered Oregon Route 18. Construction on the first 4-mile (6.4 km) phase began in June 2013, and the section opened at 5am on January 6, 2018.[3] This section connects Oregon 219 south of Newberg to 99W west of Dundee. The entire 11-mile (18 km) bypass was expected to cost $262 million. It has four lanes and reconnects to 99W east of Newberg.

Major intersections

Milepoints are as reported by ODOT and do not necessarily reflect current mileage. Z indicates overlapping mileage due to construction longer than established route, and – indicates negative mileage behind established beginning point.[4] Segments that are locally maintained may be omitted. For routes traversing multiple named state highways, each milepoint is preceded by the corresponding state highway number. 

CountyLocation[5]Milepoint[5]ExitDestinationsNotes
LincolnOtis Junction–0.22–
0.25
US 101 Tillamook, Astoria, Lincoln City, Seaside, NewportInterchange
Tillamook
No major junctions
Polk22.51–
22.66
Spirit Mountain CasinoInterchange
Valley Junction23.04
OR 22 west Hebo, Tillamook
Western end of concurrency with OR 22
24.40–
24.94
25Fort Hill Road / Yamhill River RoadInterchange
26.77–
27.00


OR 18 Bus. east Willamina, Sheridan
Interchange; eastbound exit and entrance
26.86–
27.14

OR 22 east Willamina, Salem
Interchange; westbound signage; eastern end of concurrency with OR 22
27.17
OR 22 east Salem
Interchange; eastbound signage; eastbound exit only
YamhillSheridan32.38–
32.78
33SheridanInterchange
34.1134

OR 18 Bus. west Sheridan, Willamina
Interchange; westbound exit and eastbound entrance
Bellevue36.93OR 153 Amity, Salem
McMinnville43.84–
44.60
OR 99W McMinnville, CorvallisInterchange; left exit eastbound; Corvallis appears only on westbound signage
45.88–
46.37
McMinnville Spur McMinnvilleInterchange
49.91
OR 233 south (Lafayette Highway) Hopewell, Amity, Lafayette
Western end of concurrency with OR 233; Amity only appears on westbound signage
Dayton51.18–
51.33

OR 221 south Dayton, Salem
Interchange
52.59–
52.71
OR 99W Newberg, Portland
OR 233
No eastbound access to OR 99W south
Northern terminus of OR 233
Dundee OR 99W Newberg, Portland
Newberg OR 219 Woodburn
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Special routes

Oregon Route 18 Business

Business plate.svg

Oregon Route 18 Business marker

Oregon Route 18 Business

LocationWillamina–Sheridan
Length8.56 mi[6] (13.78 km)
Existed1957–present

Oregon Route 18 Business is a business route state highway in the U.S. state of Oregon that runs parallel to Oregon Route 18 between the Willamina, and Sheridan, in the Yamhill Valley. OR 18B traverses the Willamina–Sheridan Highway No. 157 of the Oregon state highway system.[1] It is also known as the West Valley Highway.[7]

Oregon 18B begins (at its western terminus) at a junction with Oregon Route 18 and Oregon Route 22, at Valley Junction near Willimina. From there it travels eastward just north of the South Yamhill River. The river occasionally floods and closes the road.[8] It passes through the community of Shipley, before entering Sheridan. OR 18B then reconnects to OR 18 at the eastern edge of Sheridan.

The business loop was the former main route and highway until 1957, when the current Oregon Route 18 was built as a bypass. Route 18 Business is 8.60 miles (13.84 km) long.[9] The only traffic light on the road is in Sheridan at the intersection of 18B and Bridge Street where Sheridan Bridge crosses the South Yamhill River. In Sheridan the highway is Main Street. It is classified as a Rural Major Connector highway.[9]

Business 18 averages approximately 5,900 vehicles per day at its eastern terminus and 6,000 near the western terminus in Willimina.[10] Traffic averages around 5,400 vehicles per day between those two points.[10]

Major intersections

Milepoints are as reported by ODOT and do not necessarily reflect current mileage. Z indicates overlapping mileage due to construction longer than established route, and – indicates negative mileage behind established beginning point.[4] Segments that are locally maintained may be omitted. For routes traversing multiple named state highways, each milepoint is preceded by the corresponding state highway number. 

CountyLocation[6]Milepoint[6]DestinationsNotes
Polk0.00–
0.49


OR 18 west / OR 22 west Oregon Coast


OR 18 east / OR 22 east McMinnville, Salem
Partial interchange
YamhillWillamina2.24Willamina Creek
8.60
OR 18 east
Interchange
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  1. Road Inventory and Classification Services Unit. "2012 Cross Reference Table of Highway Route Number to State Highway Number" (PDF). Transportation Development Division, Oregon Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  2. "State Highway Commission Orders Routes to Bypass Towns of Sheridan, Willamina, Dayton". The Oregonian. May 27, 1955. p. 15.
  3. "Bypass to open at 5 a.m. on Saturday, January 6, 2018". Oregon Department of Transportation. December 19, 2017. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  4. Road Inventory and Classification Services (July 2017). "Straightline Chart Legend" (PDF). Oregon Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  5. Road Inventory and Classification Services Unit. "Straightline Charts". Transportation Development Division, Oregon Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  6. Road Inventory and Classification Services Unit. "Straightline Charts". Transportation Development Division, Oregon Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  7. 38--Taylor Lumber and Treating (TLT) Superfund Site-Specific Remedial Action. Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved on March 18, 2008.
  8. KATU Storm blog for Monday, Dec. 3, 2007. KATU. Retrieved on March 18, 2008.
  9. Functional Classification and National Highway System Status on Oregon State Highways. Oregon Department of Transportation. Retrieved on March 18, 2008.
  10. Traffic Flow Map 2004. Oregon Department of Transportation. Retrieved on March 18, 2008.
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