Harbor Drive is a short roadway in Portland, Oregon, spanning a total length of 0.7 miles (1.1 km), which primarily functions as a ramp to and from Interstate 5.
In 1961, a new freeway (which at the time extended from Eugene to Tigard) was completed to the existing Harbor Drive in downtown Portland, and signed as Interstate 5 and (temporarily) as U.S. Route 99.
[7] Oregon Governor Tom McCall halted expansion[7] and created a task force to study options for replacing Harbor Drive with a public place.
The southernmost segment of Harbor Drive connecting to I-5 southbound and from I-5 northbound, and has two intermediate intersections with traffic signals that provide access to the RiverPlace district.
One other remnant of Harbor Drive is a small portion of a ramp stub from the Hawthorne Bridge; the majority of which has been removed due to construction of the new county courthouse.
[9] Waterfront Park opened on the land formerly occupied by the highway in 1978 and is a popular destination for sightseers, picnickers, and homeless campers, as well as a site for civic events such as the Rose Festival fun center.
[10] In addition to creating a major recreation facility for the city of Portland, the closure of Harbor Drive is widely considered a significant event in urban planning – the first time a freeway had ever been removed without being replaced.