| Interstate 82 |
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| McNary Highway |
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Interstate 82, also known as the McNary Highway, connects Interstate 84, south of Hermiston, Ore. with Interstate 90, in Ellensburg, Wash. The Oregon portion is just 11 miles long. I-82 was the final element of Oregon’s entire interstate system; it was completed on Sept. 20, 1988.
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| Interesting Facts |
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Although I-82 is one of the shorter interstate portions in Oregon, it wasn’t built without controversy. I-82 was placed on the national interstate highway system plan by the Secretary of Commerce in 1956, based on a recommendation by the Department of Defense. However, Washington and Oregon did not agree on a route and consequently a number of alternatives were discussed. Each alternative site for the route brought intense debate among local business interests, local government and others who were all concerned about the potential economic benefits of having the route sited in their area. Finally, the Federal Highway Administration stepped in and the route was approved by both states in 1978. Construction was completed ten years later.
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