New Frontage Road Reduces Merging Conflicts
The interchanges at SW Allen Boulevard and SW Denney Road are some of the worst congestion locations on OR 217. The two interchanges are very closely spaced, leading to merging conflicts and crashes.
We are permanently closing two ramps in the southbound direction (the SW Allen Boulevard on-ramp and the SW Denney Road off-ramp) and building a new two-lane, one-way (southbound only) frontage road adjacent to the highway. The frontage road will work similarly to the one to the north connecting Canyon Road and Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway. This change will reduce the amount of merging and in turn increase safety and reliability in the southbound direction.
The new frontage road will allow drivers to travel south more safely from SW Allen Boulevard to SW Denney Road, bypassing OR 217 entirely. It will also include a new bridge over Fanno Creek.
We will widen both the SW Allen Boulevard off-ramp and the SW Denney Road on-ramp to accommodate the increased traffic on those two ramps.
Using the New Frontage Road
- Those who normally get on OR 217 using the SW Allen Boulevard southbound on-ramp will use the new frontage road to travel south and merge onto the highway via the SW Denney Road southbound on-ramp.
- Those who normally get off OR 217 using the SW Denney Road southbound off-ramp will exit the highway at SW Allen Boulevard and use the new frontage road to travel south to SW Denney Road.
Rendering of New Frontage Road
Southbound frontage road between SW Allen Boulevard and SW Denney Road.