All the years I have lived up here, and traveled down I-5 to California, I wondered if this sign, just south of Portland was misleading. It always seemed to take far longer and be far more easterly to take the I-205 bypass around Portland, than the I-5 central route through the city. The sign implies a little extra distance. Reality? Read on.

Here is what the area looks like. Now that you have seen the sign, here are the mapped routes, with mileage. Should the OR DOT be smacked for putting up such a misleading sign? You be the judge.

This time, I decided I had to find out for certain. On the way down I took the I-5 central route through Portland and measured the mileage. As you can see here, the route looks pretty straight, with a little bend just south of the city.

Measuring the distance along I-5 came to 27 miles. Longer than I thought! No wonder why it seems to take forever to get through there, it’s about a 30 minute drive without traffic!

On my return, I took the I-205 bypass, touted as a faster way around the city, and of relatively equal distance. I present this image for you, and the following data.

Clearly, you can see that it’s a MUCH longer route. And the actual path looks, quite different, than the sign suggests.

So, how much of a sucker bet is it? How about 67% longer than the I-5 route?! It’s just a hair over 40 miles!

Traffic would have to be a crawling 30 MPH all the way through and past the city to break even! Now, here is the kicker. When traffic is bad in Portland, it’s just as bad, if not worse on I-205 (been there, parked in that).

So, no matter how you cut it. Unless you are going to the airport, East on OR-84 or WA-4 it’s a sucker’s bet and one you should NOT TAKE!

Traveler beware. The Oregon DOT and that sign LIE!!