Remnants of Portland's Unbuilt Freeways

Portland, Oregon's freeway network is only a fraction of what was originally planned. This documentary takes a look at three proposed freeways that were nearly built, the neighborhood revolts that led to their cancellation, and remnants of these projects that are still visible today.

Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
1:26 - Historical Context
5:56 - The Industrial Freeway
10:36 - The Rose City Freeway
15:38 - The Mount Hood Freeway
22:00 - Epilogue
23:19 - Credits

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This video is for educational purposes and is distributed for non-commercial use. It is not monetized or sponsored. All video footage, images and audio recordings are the property of their original owners and are used in accordance with Fair Use principles.

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Music:
“Honey and Clementines” by Lee Rosevere
“Under Suspicion” by Lee Rosevere
“Zero Tolerance” by Blacksheep
“18” by HOME
“Acquisition” by Blacksheep
“Getting There From Here (Instrumental)” by Poolside

[stevewages]

I had always wondered about these “stubs”, particularly the one you can see on the I5 south > I84 ramp. Thanks for filling in the history!

[christiannecas]

Damn, I was literally wondering about the ghost ramps the other day. As a Portland resident, I truly appreciate this informative and well produced video

[stevenpdx]

The unbuilt freeways of Portland have always fascinated me, and I was thrilled to stumble across this video. Absolutely top-notch in every aspect.

[DocPlays]

It was certainly strange to see my route to work being described documentary style

[OREGONGAMER]

I always wondered why Powell had those weird parking lots. All those homes destroyed for a parking lot.

[cjtj]

14:38 Early 1980's my grandfather, R.I.P., almost drove off that stub with me and my 2 younger brothers in his car!! All 3 of us were yelling "GRANDPA! STOP!!!" We screeched to a stop....in the stub!!! I remember that there was only a chain link fence sealing off the end, and thinking to myself "Really? What's the point?!?"" LOL

[RoadGuyRob]

I lived in Northeast Portland 15 years ago. It's great to learn the deep story behind all the ghost ramps.

Peter, if I ever make a Portland trip, we should absolutely collaborate!

[ThePatriot]

Great job putting this together, really well made.

[stevenpdx]

I've always been interested in Portland's unbuilt freeways. This is definitely the most comprehensive look into the freeway revolts of the 70s and the remnants we can still find. Love it.

[TheCatherineCC]

Not sure how I watched a video about a park and ended up binge watching your entire channel, but it was a good evening :) Thank you for your borderline obsessive research and work on producing these pieces!

[RobertERider]

Love the video. As a lifelong Portland resident, I can't get enough of watching and learning about Portland.

[Nailima_]

As a kid i was always confused about the ramp stubs as i thought that they were going be building more road there in the future. I now know that those were all from a time long since passed. Thanks for making these awesome videos!

[OregonBuildingRailfan]

Woah! Thats a lot of information I didn't know. The only one I heard about before was the Mt. Hood. Thanks for sharing!

[d.diggler]

As a life long Portland resident, I always wondered about the unfinished freeway ramps.

[chrisw]

The only one I wish was built was the one that cuts through hayden island, to the us 30 industrial area and through the west hills to beaverton, three bridges across the Columbia and high speed transit on all three would solve so many issues without destroying actual neighborhoods. it would cut traffic and transit times to vancouver in half

[robertg]

Milwaukee WI had the same thing happen. Only about 45% of the proposed freeways were built. Pretty much for the same reasons. We had stubs all over the place. In fact one such stub was actually used in the Blues Brothers movie. At least it got some use.LOL

[artbyty]

Wow lived here my whole life and never knew many of these details. Always knew the overpass stubs where for canceled freeways but really cool to know the how's and why's.

[dantupper]

This was great!- my Grandpa, like lots of others locally, was a bridge builder.
He had papers on a few proposed local bridges- one between Hwy 14 and I-84 in the Camas/Washougal to Troutdale area.
The other sounds like part of the 'Gateway Express' plan- a bridge to connect the Ports of Vancouver and Portland- making both more competetive.
Third one was very uncertain- variation og 'Gateway Expressway' headed northward from St Johns bridge to connect to 78th & I-5/Hwy99 in Hazel Dell.
The east end of 78th was designed as a 'Expressway' in the late '50's early '60's but not completed for decades.
Grandpa had saved articles about these large local projects for years.
Thanks!

[JD-ntui]

I had just moved here when I started noticing the ramp stubs driving around. What a well thought out, researched, and composed video. Thank you!

[frankosoriano]

I am neither from Portland or the US, but man was this still an interesting and very informative watch. Great job dude!