The steeper, hilly northern portion of the road included in OR 127 was built at the end of the 19th century and had its elevation reduced multiple times.

Due to development along the southern portion starting in the late 20th century, the road has been subject to several extensions, including in 1996, when it superseded 216th and 219th Avenues in a realignment.

The street passes under a viaduct carrying light rail trains on the MAX Blue and Red Lines near Quatama station and the Orenco Woods Nature Park.

[2] From the undercrossing, the highway travels through several business parks on the east side of Intel's Ronler Acres factory, connected by the intersecting Cornell Road and Evergreen Parkway.

The highway winds its way around farms and forestland as it ascends into the Tualatin Mountains, reaching its highest point at Cornelius Pass, elevation 581 feet (177 m).

[3] The narrow road then descends from the mountains along McCarthy Creek and approaches the Multnomah Channel of the Columbia River, terminating at an intersection with U.S. Route 30 northwest of Portland.

[9] By 2006, the former country road handled 11,000 drivers each day, though it was designed for 10,000,[10] because it is an arterial route from the Tualatin Valley between Hillsboro to the Columbia River north of Portland;[11] 1,500 of the 11,000 vehicles were tractor-trailers.

[18] In 1948, 1951, and 1956, mudslides caused by rainy weather resulted in multiple obstructions of the road and temporary one-way traffic being put into effect.

[28] The intersection with US 26 was altered in 2005 with new on- and off-ramps extending from Cornelius Pass to the east, where a railroad overpass had previously been located; Intel contributed funding for this project.

[39] The new section crosses Portland & Western Railroad tracks and takes Cornelius Pass Road into the under-construction South Hillsboro area.