“But Wait, There’s More!” Car-mageddon Continues
Crews worked last year to realign the curve on Cornelius Pass at NW 8th Ave. This will be one of the work sites this summer. (Photo: Mult. Co.)
By Miles Merwin
As you probably already know by now, not all of the Cornelius Pass Road safety improvement projects administered by Multnomah Co. were completed last summer. Two major construction projects on the road are due to resume next summer: re-alignment of the S-curves north of Skyline Blvd., and replacement of the culvert at NW 8th Avenue. This means that sections of the road will again be closed, and detours for cars and trucks will be put in place.
To give neighbors a preview of what to expect for 2020, the Ridge Runner asked Mike Pullen of the Multnomah Co. Communications Office to respond to questions related to Cornelius Pass and other public road concerns in our area. His responses appear below.
Ridge Runner: Can you offer any further explanation as to why the two projects (S-curve realignment & culvert at NW 8th Ave.) were not completed in 2019?
Mike Pullen: For the culvert, the contractor chose to have the culvert constructed offsite rather than onsite, as the design engineer had assumed. The contractor was entitled to change the construction method. But the contractor did not get the new culvert design approved in time to complete construction and installation during the summer “in-water” work period. Due to federal regulations designed to protect threatened fish species, work in the stream that goes through the culvert can only be done during summer months when threatened fish species are not present.
At the S-curves, the decision by the contractor to not use explosives in the realignment was made so late in the summer that there was not enough time to realign and repave the road before winter weather. Rules prohibit some paving work during winter months, to get the best paving product possible.
The contractor eventually chose to remove the rock face above the curves with machines rather than explosives. The rock face was removed and protective netting was installed to prevent rocks from falling on the road below.
RR: Was a penalty assessed to the contractor as a result?
MP: The contractor is subject to financial penalties for not completing the project on schedule. The county has withheld payments from the contractor, to impose those penalties. The contractor has the right to appeal the penalties.
RR: Will the same contractor perform the work next year?
MP: The contractor and the county are discussing this currently. The work in 2020 could be performed by a new contractor or by the same one as in 2019. A decision will be made in early 2020.
RR: Are the construction costs of the 2020 work covered under the original contract or will additional funds from the county be required (e.g. for flaggers, sign placement, etc.)?
MP: Extending construction into 2020 will increase some project costs, such as traffic sign installation. Many signs were removed after work ended this year and new signs will need to be installed in 2020, which was not planned originally. The county will need to cover some of the new costs that will be incurred in 2020.
RR: Will the work schedule for CPR be coordinated with Washington County’s project at NW Germantown and Old Cornelius Pass?
MP: Washington County plans to construct the signal in February - May 2020. Multnomah County’s work is planned to begin in June, several miles north of Washington County’s project. (See https://www.co.washington.or.us/LUT/TransportationProjects/corneliuspassgermantown.cfm)
RR: What is the anticipated month the work will start and the approximate duration?
MP: We expect work will begin around June 2020 and last three or four months. The in-water work (8th Ave. culvert) needs to be completed between July and September.
RR: Will the section of CPR from Skyline to Hwy 30 be closed completely or partially throughout construction?
MP: The current plan is to completely close Cornelius Pass Road near NW 8th Ave. where the culvert will be replaced. The culvert has already been fabricated offsite, which will simplify construction in 2020. Replacing the culvert will require digging out a deep section across the width of Cornelius Pass Road, requiring a full road closure.
RR: Will the same detour routes for cars & trucks as in 2019 be put in place again?
MP: No. Work was completed in 2019 on the section of Cornelius Pass Road between Skyline Blvd. and Germantown Road. That southern section of Cornelius Pass Road will remain open in 2020. Between Skyline Blvd. and Highway 30, Cornelius Pass Road will be completely closed at NW 8th Ave. As in 2019, the detour route around that closure from Highway 30 will be Newberry Road to Skyline Blvd. to Cornelius Pass Road. Trucks will not be permitted on any roads between Skyline Blvd. and Highway 30, unless they are making a delivery on that road.
RR: What measures will be taken to better enforce the detour for trucks?
MP: We plan to use the same measures: enforceable “No Trucks” signs at entrances to side roads (including larger signs), truck detour route signs, flaggers directing traffic at key intersections, public outreach, and enforcement by local and state law enforcement.
RR: What are the approx. dates for public meetings in our area, i.e. at Skyline School?
MP: Public meetings will be scheduled in spring 2020, when the construction schedule and contractor are confirmed.
RR: Will jurisdiction for CPR transfer to ODOT once the 2020 work is completed or before then?
MP: The section of Cornelius Pass Road between Highway 26 and Highway 30 will not transfer from Washington and Multnomah counties to ODOT until after construction is complete in 2020. The transfer date is not confirmed, but is expected in the next 1 - 2 years.
RR: Once ODOT takes charge, will they be solely responsible for road maintenance, crash response, etc., or will Multnomah Co. be responsible for part of that?
MP: As the agency with jurisdiction for the road, ODOT will be responsible for maintenance. For questions about ODOT’s plans for taking over the road, we recommend you contact ODOT staff.
RR: Concerns were raised at a public meeting earlier this year about the 55 mph speed limit past the 13 mile marker on NW Skyline. Has there been any action on conducting a speed study to determine if a slower speed would be safer?
MP: This request has been added to the county’s list of public requests and will be reviewed. We do not have an update yet. We understand that ODOT plans to revise the rules to reduce the speed limit on a local road, which could help on NW Skyline Blvd.
RR: Do you anticipate that the county will have funds next year for pothole repair on NW Skyline?
MP: Yes, potholes will be repaired. Some areas of worn pavement require more extensive repairs that we do not have the budget to repair in 2020.
(RR 01/20)
As you probably already know by now, not all of the Cornelius Pass Road safety improvement projects administered by Multnomah Co. were completed last summer. Two major construction projects on the road are due to resume next summer: re-alignment of the S-curves north of Skyline Blvd., and replacement of the culvert at NW 8th Avenue. This means that sections of the road will again be closed, and detours for cars and trucks will be put in place.
To give neighbors a preview of what to expect for 2020, the Ridge Runner asked Mike Pullen of the Multnomah Co. Communications Office to respond to questions related to Cornelius Pass and other public road concerns in our area. His responses appear below.
Ridge Runner: Can you offer any further explanation as to why the two projects (S-curve realignment & culvert at NW 8th Ave.) were not completed in 2019?
Mike Pullen: For the culvert, the contractor chose to have the culvert constructed offsite rather than onsite, as the design engineer had assumed. The contractor was entitled to change the construction method. But the contractor did not get the new culvert design approved in time to complete construction and installation during the summer “in-water” work period. Due to federal regulations designed to protect threatened fish species, work in the stream that goes through the culvert can only be done during summer months when threatened fish species are not present.
At the S-curves, the decision by the contractor to not use explosives in the realignment was made so late in the summer that there was not enough time to realign and repave the road before winter weather. Rules prohibit some paving work during winter months, to get the best paving product possible.
The contractor eventually chose to remove the rock face above the curves with machines rather than explosives. The rock face was removed and protective netting was installed to prevent rocks from falling on the road below.
RR: Was a penalty assessed to the contractor as a result?
MP: The contractor is subject to financial penalties for not completing the project on schedule. The county has withheld payments from the contractor, to impose those penalties. The contractor has the right to appeal the penalties.
RR: Will the same contractor perform the work next year?
MP: The contractor and the county are discussing this currently. The work in 2020 could be performed by a new contractor or by the same one as in 2019. A decision will be made in early 2020.
RR: Are the construction costs of the 2020 work covered under the original contract or will additional funds from the county be required (e.g. for flaggers, sign placement, etc.)?
MP: Extending construction into 2020 will increase some project costs, such as traffic sign installation. Many signs were removed after work ended this year and new signs will need to be installed in 2020, which was not planned originally. The county will need to cover some of the new costs that will be incurred in 2020.
RR: Will the work schedule for CPR be coordinated with Washington County’s project at NW Germantown and Old Cornelius Pass?
MP: Washington County plans to construct the signal in February - May 2020. Multnomah County’s work is planned to begin in June, several miles north of Washington County’s project. (See https://www.co.washington.or.us/LUT/TransportationProjects/corneliuspassgermantown.cfm)
RR: What is the anticipated month the work will start and the approximate duration?
MP: We expect work will begin around June 2020 and last three or four months. The in-water work (8th Ave. culvert) needs to be completed between July and September.
RR: Will the section of CPR from Skyline to Hwy 30 be closed completely or partially throughout construction?
MP: The current plan is to completely close Cornelius Pass Road near NW 8th Ave. where the culvert will be replaced. The culvert has already been fabricated offsite, which will simplify construction in 2020. Replacing the culvert will require digging out a deep section across the width of Cornelius Pass Road, requiring a full road closure.
RR: Will the same detour routes for cars & trucks as in 2019 be put in place again?
MP: No. Work was completed in 2019 on the section of Cornelius Pass Road between Skyline Blvd. and Germantown Road. That southern section of Cornelius Pass Road will remain open in 2020. Between Skyline Blvd. and Highway 30, Cornelius Pass Road will be completely closed at NW 8th Ave. As in 2019, the detour route around that closure from Highway 30 will be Newberry Road to Skyline Blvd. to Cornelius Pass Road. Trucks will not be permitted on any roads between Skyline Blvd. and Highway 30, unless they are making a delivery on that road.
RR: What measures will be taken to better enforce the detour for trucks?
MP: We plan to use the same measures: enforceable “No Trucks” signs at entrances to side roads (including larger signs), truck detour route signs, flaggers directing traffic at key intersections, public outreach, and enforcement by local and state law enforcement.
RR: What are the approx. dates for public meetings in our area, i.e. at Skyline School?
MP: Public meetings will be scheduled in spring 2020, when the construction schedule and contractor are confirmed.
RR: Will jurisdiction for CPR transfer to ODOT once the 2020 work is completed or before then?
MP: The section of Cornelius Pass Road between Highway 26 and Highway 30 will not transfer from Washington and Multnomah counties to ODOT until after construction is complete in 2020. The transfer date is not confirmed, but is expected in the next 1 - 2 years.
RR: Once ODOT takes charge, will they be solely responsible for road maintenance, crash response, etc., or will Multnomah Co. be responsible for part of that?
MP: As the agency with jurisdiction for the road, ODOT will be responsible for maintenance. For questions about ODOT’s plans for taking over the road, we recommend you contact ODOT staff.
RR: Concerns were raised at a public meeting earlier this year about the 55 mph speed limit past the 13 mile marker on NW Skyline. Has there been any action on conducting a speed study to determine if a slower speed would be safer?
MP: This request has been added to the county’s list of public requests and will be reviewed. We do not have an update yet. We understand that ODOT plans to revise the rules to reduce the speed limit on a local road, which could help on NW Skyline Blvd.
RR: Do you anticipate that the county will have funds next year for pothole repair on NW Skyline?
MP: Yes, potholes will be repaired. Some areas of worn pavement require more extensive repairs that we do not have the budget to repair in 2020.
(RR 01/20)