Oregon Route 58

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Oregon Route 58

Length:

86.45 mi (139.13 km)

Formed:

1932

West end:

I-5 and OR 99 in Goshen

Major
junctions:

OR 222 near Pleasant Hill

OR 429 in Crescent Lake Junction

East end:

US 97 near Chemult

Oregon Routes
< OR 53		OR 62 >

Oregon Route 58 is an Oregon state highway that runs between the city of Goshen, just south of Eugene, and U.S. Route 97 between Chemult and La Pine. It is known as the Willamette Highway, which is Highway 18, and it is a key transportation link between the Willamette Valley and Central Oregon. The highway, signed east-to-west, runs northwest to southeast.

[edit] Route description

Oregon Route 58 begins (at its western terminus) at an interchange with Interstate 5 and Oregon Route 99 near Goshen, located between the cities of Eugene and Creswell. It heads due southeast from there, following the course of the Willamette River into the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. The highway passes several lakes, including Dexter Lake and Lookout Point Lake, and provides access to the town of Lowell. Further into the mountains, it passes through the cities of Oakridge and Westfir. It continues into the mountains, to the summit of Willamette Pass, after which it descends into central Oregon. Oregon Route 58 terminates at an interchange with U.S. Route 97.

Oregon Route 58 is of high importance as a freight corridor. It is the primary route between the Willamette Valley and south-central Oregon, including the Klamath Falls region. It also is the preferred route to points further southeast, including Reno, Nevada. Finally, it is an important alternate route for traffic moving up and down the West Coast, as bad weather frequently closes Interstate 5 at the Siskiyou Pass during the winter. It should be noted that the Union Pacific Railroad main line between Oregon and California roughly follows OR 58 and US 97. While a rail line exists through Siskiyou Pass, it is difficult for trains to use even in good weather, due to an excessively steep grade, and is often uneconomical to use in winter weather. It is common for West Coast truck traffic to prefer OR 58 and US 97 to Interstate 5 for the same reason.

Two scenic byways--the West Cascades Scenic Byway and the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway--intersect with OR 58.