Interstate 84 - Definition and Overview

Interstate 84 is the designation of two interstate highways in the United States.

The Western Interstate 84

Columbia River Gorge and I-84 as seen from Crown Point, Oregon

The western Interstate 84 runs from an intersection with Interstate 5 at Portland, Oregon to an intersection with Interstate 80 at Echo, Utah—roughly the same route as the Oregon Trail. Starting in Portland, the interstate runs through the Columbia River Gorge alongside the Columbia River Highway to The Dalles, then continues along the Columbia River to Boardman, at which point it veers off in a southeasterly direction, crosses the Blue Mountains, and continues toward Ontario at the Idaho border.

Crossing the "heel" of the Idaho "boot", I-84 passes through Boise and Twin Falls, continuing on to the southeast and the border with Utah. Within Utah, I-84 connects Brigham City and Ogden, terminating at I-80 in the mountains near Echo, Utah.

I-84 was known as I-80N until the late 1970s. The western I-76 (branching off in Nebraska and going into Denver) was I-80S. Federal law restricted the use of suffix letters on interstates, and these two were renumbered, as were some other highways that had E and W branches. The only remaining such branch is I-35E and I-35W, which exists in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and also the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.

Length

Major cities along the route

• Portland, Oregon
• Boise, Idaho
• Ogden, Utah

Intersections with other Interstates

• Interstate 5 in Portland, Oregon
• Interstate 82 in Hermiston, Oregon
• The western Interstate 86 in Heyburn, Idaho
• Interstate 15 in Tremonton, Utah. They stay joined until Ogden, Utah.
• Interstate 80 in Echo, Utah

Spur routes

• Boise, Idaho - I-184

The Eastern Interstate 84

The eastern Interstate 84 runs from Scranton, Pennsylvania at an intersection with Interstate 81 to Sturbridge, Massachusetts at an intersection with Interstate 90.

Length

Major cities along the route

• Scranton, Pennsylvania
• Hartford, Connecticut

Intersections with other Interstates

• Interstate 81 in Scranton, Pennsylvania
• Future Interstate 86 in Middletown, New York
• Interstate 87 in Newburgh, New York
• Interstate 91 in Hartford, Connecticut
• Interstate 90 in Sturbridge, Massachusetts

Spur routes

• Spur to White Plains, New York - I-684
• Spur to Bolton, Connecticut - I-384

Notes

• Both Western- and Eastern-I-84 is actually one Interstate roadway. Simply take Interstate 80 East in Utah, then Interstate 81 North in Pennsylvania, and see I-84 reappear!

• I-84 between Hartford, Connecticut (Interstate 91) and Sturbridge, Massachusetts (Interstate 90) was to be renumbered Interstate 86. I-84 would continue through Eastern Connecticut to join Interstate 95 along US 6 in Providence, Rhode Island. This project was cancelled, and the completed portion East of Hartford was renumbered Interstate 384. The superhighway can be seen at the US 6 interchange with I-295 west of Providence. Many people remember the signs claiming "I-84 will become I-86", and now note the signage claiming "I-86 is now I-84".

• I-484 was slated to be built around Hartford, but that highway was never completed.

• The western Interstate 84 was originally numbered Interstate 80N (see Interstate 80). It was given its new designation in 1980.

• The eastern Interstate 84 enters New York from Pennsylvania at an unusual location. This happens to be the location where the boundaries of New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey meet. I-84 lies a mere 30 feet away from New Jersey upon crossing the state line (which is the Delaware River). In fact, at the first interchange in New York, there is signage leading to New Jersey State Highway 23!

Reference

• 2005 Rand McNally "The Road Atlas 2005" - newest feature- interstate mileage by state