Oregon Route 51

Oregon Route 51
Route information
Maintained by ODOT
Length:	8.69 mi[1] (13.99 km)
Existed:	1932 – present
Component highways:	Monmouth–Independence Highway No. 43 Independence Highway No. 193
Major junctions
South end:	OR 99W / OR 194 in Monmouth
North end:	OR 22 near Rickreall
Highway system
Oregon Highways Interstate US State Named Scenic ← OR 47 OR 52 →

Oregon Route 51 is an Oregon state highway running between Monmouth, Oregon and an intersection with Oregon Route 22 west of Salem. OR 51 traverses several highways of the Oregon state highway system: the Monmouth–Independence Highway No. 43 and the Independence Highway No. 193.^[2] The route lies completely within Polk County. The Independence Highway previously continued south to US 20.

Route description

OR 51 starts, at its southern terminus, in the city of Monmouth, at an intersection with Oregon Route 99W. It heads due east from there for approximately 2½ miles, reaching the neighboring city of Independence. In Independence, it turns north, running parallel to the Willamette River, and continues for 6 miles (9.7 km). OR 51 terminates at an intersection with OR 22 near Brunks Corner.

While no significant improvements are planned to OR 51 itself; a proposed project to improve OR 22 includes conversion of the (notoriously dangerous) intersection between OR 51 and OR 22 into a grade-separated interchange.^[3]

Major intersections

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.^[4] For routes traversing multiple named state highways, each milepoint is preceded by the corresponding state highway number. The entire route is in Polk County. ^[1]

Location[1]	Milepoint[1]	Destinations	Notes
Monmouth	43 0.00	OR 194 – Monmouth City Center, Kings Valley	Continuation beyond southern terminus
		OR 99W – Corvallis, McMinnville
Independence	43 2.35 193 6.34	South Main Street – Buena Vista, Albany
​	193 0.00	OR 22 – Salem, Dallas
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

1. Road Inventory and Classification Services Unit. "Straightline Charts". Transportation Development Division, Oregon Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
   • Monmouth–Independence Highway No. 43 (August 2015)
   • Independence Highway No. 193 (June 2015)
2. Road Inventory and Classification Services Unit. "2012 Cross Reference Table of Highway Route Number to State Highway Number" (PDF). Transportation Development Division, Oregon Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
3. Project 22, Polk County, Oregon
4. Road Inventory and Classification Services Unit. "Straightline Chart Legend" (PDF). Transportation Development Division, Oregon Department of Transportation. Retrieved August 29, 2015.