Oregon Route 213 (OR 213) is an Oregon state highway that serves the eastern Willamette Valley between Portland and Salem. It is a north–south route. The route (except for its southernmost segment) is known as the Cascade Highway, though specific segments are generally better known by more localized names.
OR 213 begins on the grounds of Portland International Airport at an intersection with Airport Way, halfway between I-205 and the airport terminal. It heads south, where it is known as N.E. and S.E. 82nd Avenue,[1] a major five-lane thoroughfare through east Portland, until reaching its other end at OR 224 in the Clackamas area. Throughout this stretch, OR 213 runs parallel to Interstate 205 and thus mainly serves local traffic. However, traffic can still be heavy due to incidents on I-205 as well as the street's many businesses. The street has some of the highest bus ridership in the region, along TriMet Route 72, which connects with the MAX Blue Line at the 82nd Avenue MAX Station.[2]
OR 213 then follows I-205 for approximately 3 miles (4.8 km), before departing the freeway in Oregon City. It then proceeds south on a four-lane expressway through a scenic canyon on Oregon City's eastern edge until it intersects with Molalla Avenue in the vicinity of Clackamas Community College. This route goes by a number of names, known alternately as 82nd Drive, the Oregon City Bypass or the Trails End Highway.[3] It then continues south as a two-lane, undivided route, through the communities of Carus, Mulino, and Liberal. In Liberal, Oregon Route 213 becomes the "Cascade Highway" (formerly Route 215) and continues south. Approximately 12 miles (19 km) south of Molalla, the highway enters the town of Silverton, where it intersects Oregon Route 214. Oregon Route 213 then veers southwest along Silverton Road until it reaches Salem; in Salem it follows an alignment consisting of Silverton Road, Lancaster Drive, and Market Street until its southern terminus at Interstate 5. A separate roadway (never maintained by the Oregon Department of Transportation) known as the Cascade Highway South[4] continues south from Silverton (previously Oregon Route 215 but now devoid of any route number)[citation needed] until an intersection with OR 22 just north of Stayton.[5]
OR 213 comprises the following named highways (see Oregon highways and routes) from north to south:
For the most part, the alignment of OR 213 has remained the same over the years; however the following re-alignments have occurred:
Milepoints are as reported by ODOT and do not necessarily reflect current mileage. Z indicates overlapping mileage due to construction longer than established route, and – indicates negative mileage behind established beginning point.[8] Segments that are locally maintained may be omitted. For routes traversing multiple named state highways, each milepoint is preceded by the corresponding state highway number.