Transportation Engineering

Many crashes occur on a windy segment of Canby-Marquam Hwy near Kraxberger Road (approximately between MP 5.05 and MP 5.45) due to drivers leaving the roadway, especially in wet conditions. Safety improvements include repaving to improve pavement friction, two radar-activated curve warning signs with lights, and enhanced safety signing.

Why

To increase safety and reduce lane departure crashes.

Schedule

• Design: Jan 2024 - Dec. 2024
• Construction: winter 2025 - summer 2026

Traffic impact

• Intermittent lane closures will be needed during construction.

Current activities

• Project design

Funding

• Project estimate $470,000
• Funding is provided from HB 2017 state gas tax safety funds

Two culverts carrying Conway Creek under Aschoff Road in the Rhododendron area are damaged, undersized, and do not easily allow fish and wildlife to pass upstream and will be replaced with a modular bridge. 

Why

Why
To minimize potential impacts to the roadway due to flooding and to provide access for fish and other aquatic organisms to reach upstream cold-water habitat.  

Schedule

• Design: June 2025 – October 2026
• Right of way: Summer 2026 – Spring 2027
• Construction: Summer 2027 – Winter 2027

Traffic impact

• A road closure will be needed during construction.
• Project is expected to take up to 3 months to complete.
• Culvert work limited to a state-approved in-water work period of July 15 to August 31.

Current activities

• Project in planning phase
• Design phase to start in January 2024 pending grant funding approval
• County preparing Request for Proposals for project design and permitting.

Funding

• Project estimate $1.9 million.
• Funding is provided from  Federal Culvert AOP grant funds and county road funds. 

Studying six intersections for operations and safety

Each of the project intersections can have unique safety, operational or geometric challenges without easy solutions. We will investigate how six intersections operate, and look at safety conditions and geometry and develop potential ways to address the specific challenges for future implementation.

The following intersections will be studied:

• Airport Road and Miley Road
• Barlow Road and Arndt Road
• Beavercreek Road and Leland Road/Kamrath Road
• Bluff Road and 327th Ave
• Redland Road and Holly Ln
• Molalla Ave and Vaughan Road

Why

To provide a safer roadway for all users by increasing visibility of intersection.

Schedule

This is a planning study only. Conducting the analysis allows us to create potential future project scopes and budgets and prioritize funding decisions, but design and construction are not part of this intersection feasibility study.

• Planning: Jan. 2023 to Sept. 2023
• Design: March 2023 to June 2024 

Traffic impacts

No traffic impacts will be needed during planning.

Current activities

• Project planning.

Funding

• Project estimate $120,000.
• Funding is provided from HB2017 state gas taxes.

Improving safety by reducing the speed of travelers

Four radar speed feedback signs will be installed on Beavercreek Road and Barlow Road near the Oregon City and Canby areas. Radar signs will be installed for northbound and southbound traffic on both roads. Locations will be determined during the engineering design phase.

Why

To provide a safer roadway for all users by reducing vehicle speeds.

Schedule

• Design: Nov. 2023 to Summer 2024
• Construction: Fall 2024 to Summer 2025

Traffic impact

Expect shoulder and lane closures with delays up to 20 minutes during construction.

Current activities

Project planning. 

Funding

• Project estimate $375,000.
• Funding is provided from Community Road Funds.

Rebuild the existing traffic signal add lighting to intersection, improve pedestrian access, and upgrade signal with special radar detection system to detect vehicles as they approach the intersection. The detection prevents the signal from changing to another direction prematurely and placing drivers in a dilemma of deciding to go through the intersection or not, causing longer wait times.

Why

To improve safety and reduce crashes at the intersection.

Schedule

• Design: Fall 2023-Spring 2024
• Right of way: Winter 2024 to Summer 2024
• Construction: Summer 2024 - Spring 2025

Funding

• Project estimate $2 million
• Funding is provided from the Community Road Fund

Reducing rear-end crashes by improving visibility of intersection

Most crashes at this intersection are rear-end collisions. Includes installing a radar detection system to detect vehicles as they approach the Knights Bridge Road/Arndt Road intersection. The detection prevents the signal from changing to another direction prematurely and placing drivers in a dilemma of deciding to go through the intersection or not, causing longer wait times. Also adding signal ahead signs and pavement markings to alert drivers of changing conditions. 

Why

To provide a safer roadway for all users by increasing visibility of intersection.

Schedule

• Design: Dec. 2023 to June 2024
• Construction: Sept. 2024 to June 2025

Traffic impact

Traffic impacts will be minor during installation.

Current activities

Project planning. 

Funding

• Project estimate $325,000.
• Funding is provided from HB2017 state gas taxes.

The 12’ metal culvert carrying Henry Creek under Arlie Mitchell Road in the Rhododendron area does not easily allow fish and wildlife to pass upstream and will be replaced with a modular bridge. This project is the result of collaboration among several groups, including Clackamas County, ODFW, the City of Portland, the Forest Service and the Freshwater Trust. The Freshwater Trust will lead the project. Clackamas County will provide survey, right-of-way acquisitions, plan review, public outreach, and construction inspection services. 

Why

To minimize potential impacts to the roadway due to flooding and to provide access for fish and other aquatic organisms to reach upstream cold-water habitat.  

Schedule

• Design: April 2023 – June 2023
• Right of way: Feb. 2024 – June 2024
• Construction: July 2024 – December 2025

Current activities

• Preparing to plant and seed in spring and summer 2025.
• Preparing to pave bridge approaches in spring and summer 2025.
• Project monitoring. Expect to see staff visiting regularly. 

Funding

• Project estimate $1.4 million.
• Funding is provided from grants including: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the City of Portland, the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, Forest Service, Freshwater Trust, and a contribution from county road funds. 

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Increasing stormwater capacity to reduce flooding and improve maintenance access

Flooding on El Camino Way, El Centro Way, El Centro Ct and La Mesa Way roads in the Oak Grove area occurs periodically. To reduce the frequency of flooding and to provide stormwater infrastructure with capacity for a 10-year storm event, we will replace the existing stormwater pipes. Currently, most of the stormwater pipes exist on private property and most of the pipes will be moved to existing roads within the public right of way. Constructing the storm pipes within the right of way will be easier to maintain.

Why

To decrease the frequency of flooding, improve maintenance access, and to comply with Oak Lodge Water District and Clackamas County standards requiring stormwater collection systems to provide for a 10-year storm event for this size of drainage basin.

Schedule

• Design: Feb. 2023 to April 2024
• Right of way: Dec. 2023 to April 2024
• Construction: Spring 2025 to Fall 2025

Traffic impact

• Expect shoulder and lane closures and detours with delays up to 20 minutes during construction.

Current activities

• Project planning and solicitation of design services.

Funding

• Project estimate $1.4 million 
• Funding is provided from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

Increasing stormwater capacity to reduce flooding and improve fish habitat and waterway access

Kellogg Creek flows through an undersized culvert causing the creek to back up at SE Thiessen Road and flood the road and properties upstream. We will replace the culvert with a larger culvert to allow water to move naturally for lower stream flows in the summer and higher stream flows from large storm events in the winter. Vegetation will be planted at both ends of the culvert to restore stream habitat.

Why

To decrease the frequency of flooding on the roadway and water backed up on adjacent properties upstream, and improve the habitat and ability for fish to pass through the culvert carrying Kellogg Creek.

Schedule

• Design: April 2023 to Dec. 2024
• Right of way: April 2024 to Winter 2024/2025
• Construction: Spring 2025 to Winter 2025/2026

Traffic impact

• Expect shoulder and lane closures and detours with delays up to 20 minutes during construction.

Current activities

• Project planning and solicitation of design services.

Funding

• Project estimate $1.5 million paid for with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

Increasing stormwater capacity to reduce flooding and improve fish habitat and waterway access.

Badger Creek flows under Rugg Road through two undersized culverts, which contributes to flooding near Rugg Road. The Johnson Creek Watershed Action Plan has identified this project as a high priority for replacement. We will replace these culverts with a single, larger culvert to allow unrestricted movement of aquatic life and to allow Badger Creek to flow naturally. We will also install large wood pieces and plant vegetation at both ends of the culvert to restore stream habitat. 

Why

To decrease the frequency of flooding in the vicinity of the Rugg Road crossing, to improve habitat quality and to improve the ability of fish to migrate.

Schedule

• Design: April 2019 to Dec. 2023
• Right of way: Dec. 2022 to Spring 2024
• Construction: Summer 2025 to Winter 2025

Traffic impacts

A road closure is needed for the majority of construction. When the road closure is not necessary for construction, expect shoulder and lane closures and detours with delays up to 20 minutes.

Current activities

Project planning, project design and coordinating permit applications. 

Funding

• Project estimate $500,000.
• Funding is provided in part from county road funds. The county is assisting the Johnson Creek Watershed Council in applying for an Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) grant.