Third Biennial Report of the Oregon State Highway Commission Part 27

This crossing consists of a laminated wood deck on heavy stringers supported by a series of creosoted pile bents. It is on the West Side Highway about four miles southwest of Tigard and is designed for heavy traffic loading.

An asphaltic wearing surface prevents moisture coming in contact with the wooden floor and with the treated piling tends to give the maximum length of life to the main members of the structure. This bridge is 600 feet long and cost complete $8,372.22.

Fanno Creek Bridge

The Fanno Creek bridge at Tigard on the West Side Highway consists of a superstructure similar to the Onion Flat bridge, carried on wood bents on concrete foundations. A sidewalk was built on one side to accommodate pedestrians. The bridge is 70 feet long and cost $1,882.81.

Tualatin River Bridge

The bridge consists of a covered Howe truss wooden bridge of 144 foot span and 166 lineal feet of pile trestle approach.

Like the others constructed by the State on main highways, this bridge is of heavy traffic design, and the bridge and approaches have laminated wood floors with asphaltic wearing surfaces. Windows are provided at panel points to provide light and to add to the appearance of the structure. Cost $12,968.60.

Votaw Undercrossing

A grade separation was made on the West Side Highway near Votaw, wherein a wooden trestle was constructed to carry the Southern Pacific line above the roadway. The structure was designed and built under the supervision of the railroad's engineering department.

Final settlement has not yet been made with the Railway Company, but it is estimated that the State's share of the cost of this structure will be $4,000.00. The balance of the cost will be paid by the Railway Company, no share of the cost being borne by the County.

Survey--Beaverton to Hillsboro

A location survey was started January 1, 1918, from the West City limits of Beaverton and completed to the city limits of Hillsboro, a distance of 7.7 miles. The alignment parallels the Southern Pacific Railway on the north side of the tracks and eliminates four grade crossings. The entire section was graded by Was.h.i.+ngton County during the 1918 season.

Survey--Forest Grove to Gaston

A survey was made from Forest Grove to Gaston, a distance of approximately 6 miles. The alignment follows the existing road with the exception of a change at Dilley to eliminate two railroad crossings.

Considerable grading was done between Dilley and Gaston, reducing the grade to five per cent.

Mr. C. G. Reiter, County Surveyor of Was.h.i.+ngton County, was employed as locating engineer for the State, and also supervised the grading in both of the above sections.

WHEELER COUNTY

Wheeler County, being without either rail or water transportation facilities, is entirely dependent upon its roads for communication with outside points, as well as between points within the County. All of the large amount of agricultural products of the county must be transported for long distances over roads and highways, and likewise, all manufactured articles and other supplies from points without the County must be brought in over them. For that reason, good roads are of the utmost importance to all of Wheeler County, which fact is fully recognized by the Wheeler County people.

Every effort is being made by the County to build up and improve its road system, but the funds available within the County are entirely inadequate. In November, 1916, bonds were voted to the amount of $80,000.00, the maximum allowed the County under the State laws, but this amount is hardly enough to make a beginning on the necessary road construction in the county, as Wheeler County is rough and mountainous, and road construction is therefore heavy and expensive.

The State Highway Commission realizing the importance of the construction of roads in this County, and the impossibility of the financing of their construction by the County alone, early determined to a.s.sist to the greatest possible extent.

Surveys have been made by the Department over all but two miles of the two most important cross-county roads, the John Day River Highway and the McKenzie River Highway. During 1917 and 1918 the State Highway Department expended the sum of $46,997.79, cooperating with the County in the construction of 4.2 miles of grading and macadamizing between Fossil and the Gilliam County Line. State aid was also granted the County to the amount of $14,235.45 for the construction of nine-tenths of a mile, known as the Bridge Creek Section, on the McKenzie River Highway just west of Mitch.e.l.l, the total cost of which was $24,235.45.

For the construction of 25.5 miles on the John Day River Highway between the mouth of Sarvice Creek and the Grant County Line, the Highway Department has set aside the sum of $63,345.70 to be added to 63,345.70 of Federal Post Road Funds and $36,000.00 of county funds to provide the total amount of $162,691.40 which the project is estimated to cost.

The Department has further been instrumental in securing Federal Aid for the construction of a Forest Road Project 5.5 miles in length between Mitch.e.l.l and the Crook County Line, known as the Ochoco Canyon Project.

On this project the State will expend $20,050.00, the Federal Government, $20,050.00 and the County, $4,900.00, $45,000.00 in all.

In summary, State Aid and Federal Government Aid extended to Wheeler County during 1917 and 1918 and set aside to be expended in 1919 and 1920, are as follows:

=========================+==========+===========+==========+=========== | | | Federal | | State | County | Govt. | Total | Funds | Funds | Funds | -------------------------+----------+-----------+----------+----------- Expended in 1917 and | | | | 1918-- | | | | On grading c.u.mmings Hill |$ 7,004.85|$ 7,527.50| ... |$ 14,532.35 Sec. | | | | On macadamizing c.u.mmings | 32,465.44| ... | ... | 32,465.44 Hill Section | | | | On grading Bridge Creek | 14,235.45| 10,000.00| ... | 24,235.45 Sec. | | | | -------------------------+----------+-----------+----------+----------- Total |$53,705.74| $17,527.50| ... |$ 71,233.24 | | | | Appropriated for Expen- | | | | diture in 1919 and | | | | 1920-- | | | | On Sarvis Creek-Grant |$63,345.70| $36,000.00|$63,345.70|$162,691.40 County Line Section | | | | On Ochoco Canyon Section | 20,050.00| 4,900.00| 20,050.00| 45,000.00 -------------------------+----------+-----------+----------+----------- Total |$83,395.70| $40,900.00|$83,395.70|$207,691.40 -------------------------+----------+-----------+----------+----------

c.u.mmings Hill Grading

On June 19th 1917, a contract was let to the Elliott Contracting Co. of Portland, Oregon, for the construction of 3.5 miles of grade between the foot of c.u.mmings Hill, north of Fossil, and the Gilliam County line.

This construction was a five per cent development to eliminate the heavy grades and narrow roadbed of the former road. Work was commenced on July 6th, 1917, and completed on October 5th, 1917. The work of the contracting firm was very satisfactory, and an excellent piece of grading was secured. The Engineer in charge for the Highway Department was Mr. B. H. McNamee.

The total cost of the work was $14,532.35, of which the State paid $7,004.85 and Wheeler County $7,527.50. The detailed cost statement follows:

DETAILED EXPENDITURE STATEMENT--GRADING c.u.mMINGS HILL, SECTION

Engineering $ 1,423.30 Construction: Common Excavation, 11,397 cu. yds. @ .40 $ 4,558.80 Intermediate Excavation, 6,017.4 cu. yds. @ .70 4,212.18 Solid Rock Excavation, 2,816.5 cu. yds. @ 1.35 3,802.27 12-inch Corr. Iron Pipe, 682 Lin. ft. @ .40 272.80 24-inch Corr. Iron Pipe, 40 Lin. ft. @ 1.00 40.00 Rubble Masonry, 22.3 cu. yds @ 10.00 223.00 ---------- 13,109.05 ---------- $14,532.35

Bridge Creek Grading

The grading of a nine-tenth mile section in Bridge Creek Canyon was contracted to the United Contracting Co. of Portland, Oregon, on November 27th, 1917. This section is on the McKenzie River Highway about four miles west of Mitch.e.l.l. In addition to the grading, the contract involved the construction of a ninety foot bridge over Bridge Creek.

The work was started on February 15th, 1918 and completed on June 20th, 1918. The engineering was in charge of Mr. R. H. Coppock.

The total cost of the work was $24,235.45 of which the State paid $14,235.45 and Wheeler County $10,000. The detailed cost statement follows:

DETAILED EXPENDITURE STATEMENT--GRADING BRIDGE CREEK SECTION

Engineering $ 635.30 Construction: Common Excavation, 3935.6 cu. yds. @ .60 $ 2,361.42 Intermediate Excavation, 549.4 cu. yds. @ .75 412.05 Solid Rock Excavation, 9837.6 cu. yds. @ 1.40 13,772.64 Overhaul per 100 lin. ft., 363 cu. yds. @ .03 10.89 12-inch Corr. Iron Pipe, 20 lin. ft. @ .73 14.60 15-inch Corr. Iron Pipe, 108 lin. ft. @ .83 89.64 21-inch Corr. Iron Pipe, 60 lin. ft. @ 1.00 60.00 Rubble Masonry, 1.58 cu. yd. @ 12.50 19.75 Guard fence, 100 lin. ft. @ .85 85.00 1 90-foot Bridge & approaches: Superstructure and trestle (Lump sum) $ 5,100.00 Cla.s.s "A" Concrete in piers, 49.24 cu. yds. @ $34.00 1,674.16 ---------- $ 6,774.16 ---------- $ 23,600.15 ----------- $ 24,235.45

Macadamizing on c.u.mmins Hill Section

On August 7th, 1917, no satisfactory unit price bid having been received, the State Highway Department entered into a "cost plus"

contract with the Warren Construction Company of Portland, Oregon, to macadamize with broken stone the c.u.mmins Hill Section between Fossil and the Gilliam County line, on the John Day River Highway. The rock for this work was crushed on the job, and the macadam surface was constructed sixteen feet wide with a compacted thickness of six inches.

Payment to contractor was made on the basis of actual cost plus a percentage of 10 per cent on labor and five per cent on materials.

To November 30th, 1918, the State had expended $32,465.44 on this work, and it is estimated that there are bills outstanding against it to the amount of $1,500.00.

In addition to the 3.4 miles of grading done by the State on c.u.mmins Hill the County continued the grading at the foot of the hill for a distance of 0.7 miles, making a total of 4.2 miles. The full section has been macadamized, giving Wheeler County 4.2 miles of standard macadam road.

b.u.t.te Creek Summit Grading

During the 1918 season, the County has graded under State supervision, a one and seven tenths mile section about nine miles southeast of Fossil on the John Day River Highway. This section is known as the b.u.t.te Creek Summit Section. The construction was paid for entirely by the County.