Third Biennial Report of the Oregon State Highway Commission Part 2

The State Highway Department has, during the period covered by this report, prepared designs for ninety-six bridges and fourteen special culverts. Of these structures sixty bridges and ten culverts have been constructed at a total cost to State and Counties of $617,388.09.

The structures paid for out of State funds consist of twenty-two reinforced concrete bridges, ten wood bridges, and seven culverts. The total expenditure of State funds for these bridges and culverts was $239,044.85.

[Ill.u.s.tration: REINFORCED CONCRETE BRIDGE OVER HOOD RIVER, NEARING COMPLETION, ON THE COLUMBIA RIVER HIGHWAY AT HOOD RIVER CITY. BUILT IN 1918.]

The structures paid for out of county funds consist of thirteen reinforced concrete bridges, fourteen wood and steel bridges, and four culverts; the total cost of these structures being $378,343.24.

Of the structures paid for by the counties, the State Highway Department supervised the construction for three reinforced concrete bridges, four steel and wood bridges, and one culvert; the cost of which totaled $288,743.24.

A complete tabulation of the bridges designed and constructed is given in another part of this report, and complete descriptions of the more important structures will be found in the articles devoted to the particular counties in which the structures are located.

The $250,000.00 intercounty bridge across the Willamette River at Salem was completed, and has attracted more than local attention. While the cost of this structure was borne by Marion and Polk Counties the design and construction engineering were handled by this Department.

The reinforced concrete arch bridge at Hood River, the largest concrete bridge yet constructed in this State was designed and built under State supervision, although the County also contributed toward its cost.

Among the proposed bridges of considerable magnitude for which county officials have requested designs from this Department may be mentioned the Deschutes and Oregon City. The former will be located between the present toll bridge and the railroad bridge across the Deschutes River and will thus obviate the necessity of toll payments. It will consist of a series of reinforced concrete arches. The Oregon City bridge will replace the old suspension bridge across the Willamette. Studies are being made and comparisons of various types of bridges and locations of site are being made.

During the war period, both for patriotic and economic reasons the employment of steel bridges was discontinued and wooden truss bridges used instead. Now that the demand for steel for war purposes has subsided, and there are indications of a decline in the price of structural steel in the near future, the resumption of use of that material in the construction of bridges will probably be more general.

ELIMINATION OF GRADE CROSSINGS

The Department is working consistently for the elimination of dangerous grade crossings. No less than ten grade crossings have been done away with as far as through traffic on State Roads is concerned, during the past two years. Most of these eliminations have been brought about by holding roads on the same side of railway tracks instead of crossing over and back. Two of the eliminations, however, were brought about by grade separations; one near Rex in Washington County and another near Ashland in Jackson County, both of these grade separations being undercrossings.

An agreement was also reached whereby a reinforced concrete overhead crossing will be constructed to eliminate a very dangerous grade crossing on the Pacific Highway near Divide, in Lane County. This structure would have been built in 1918, but on account of the requirements of material for war purposes, the United States Highway Council ordered the construction delayed. It will undoubtedly be constructed during the 1919 season.

FEDERAL CO-OPERATION

In 1916, the United States Congress enacted a law making available $85,000,000.00 of Federal Government moneys for co-operation with the several States in the construction and improvement of roads. Of this amount, $75,000,000.00 is appropriated for co-operation on "Post Roads,"

roads over which either rural or star post routes are operated, and $10,000,000.00 is appropriated for co-operation on "Forest Roads," roads within or partly within National Forests.

During the five year period prior to July 1, 1921, there will become available to the State of Oregon from the Government Funds set aside by this Act the following amounts:

===============================+================+================ | For | For | Post Roads | Forest Roads -------------------------------+----------------+---------------- July 1, 1916, to July 1, 1917 |$ 78,687.00 | $ 127,794.00 July 1, 1917, to July 1, 1918 | 157,375.00 | 127,794.00 July 1, 1918, to July 1, 1919 | 236,062.00 | 127,794.00 July 1, 1919, to July 1, 1920 | 314,749.00 | 127 794.00 July 1, 1920, to July 1, 1921 | 393,437.00 | 127,794.00 +----------------+---------------- Totals |$ 1,180,310.00 | $ 638,970.00 -------------------------------+----------------+----------------

Total amount of government funds apportioned to the State of Oregon for co-operative work. $1,819,280.00.

With the funds thus apportioned to the State, the Government will co-operate on approved road projects to not to exceed fifty per cent of their cost. Therefore, the State, or the State co-operating with the Counties, must provide amounts at least equal to the amounts set aside by the Federal Government in order to avail itself of the funds apportioned to it.

In 1917, the State Legislature pa.s.sed a bill accepting the terms of the Federal Government's co-operative offer and authorizing the issue of bonds to the amount of $1,819,280.00 to provide the funds necessary to match the Government funds. There is thus available for expenditure on post and forest roads in the State during the five years prior to July 1, 1921, the following amounts:

For Post Road Projects: Federal Government Funds $1,180,310.00 State Funds 1,180,310.00 -------------- $2,360,620.00 For Forest Road Projects: Federal Government Funds $ 638,970.00 State Funds 638,970.00 -------------- 1,277,940.00 -------------- Total $3,638,560.00

For Post Road Projects the plans are prepared, contracts let and work supervised by the State Highway Department, subject, of course, to approval and acceptance by the Secretary of Agriculture through the Federal Office of Public Roads and Rural Engineering. For Forest Road Projects, the plans are prepared, contracts let and work supervised by the Federal Office of Public Roads and Rural Engineering acting for the Secretary of Agriculture. The State Highway Department is, therefore, directly responsible for the work done on Post Road Projects, whereas on Forest Road Projects the responsibility rests with the Office of Public Roads and Rural Engineering, the State Highway Department simply approving the projects and auditing the claims presented by the Federal Government against the State's share of the funds.

It is the policy of the Highway Department to match the Government Funds with equal amounts from State Funds only, any County Funds which may be available being used to increase the total amounts available rather than to reduce the amount of State co-operation. On projects approved to November 30, 1918, the amount of these additional funds provided by counties is approximately $325,000.00.

POST ROAD PROJECTS

Up to November 30, 1918, fifteen Post Road Projects had been submitted to the Office of Public Roads for approval. Of these fifteen projects nine have received approval, three have been rejected as not complying with the government requirements as regards rural and star route mail service over them, and three are pending action by the Secretary of Agriculture. The rejected projects were the Wolf Creek-Grave Creek project in Josephine county, the Canyonville-Galesville project in Douglas County, and the Myrtle Creek-Dillard project also in Douglas County. The first and third of these projects have since been constructed without government co-operation, and the second is under construction as a "Forest Road."

Construction is now under way on two Post Road Projects both of which are in Union County. These are the Elgin-Minam project, estimated to cost $41,151.00, and the Union-Telocaset project, estimated to cost $30,000.00. The contracts for the construction of both jobs were let on July 9, 1918, to Union County, represented by the County Court, the lowest bidder. Subsequent to the letting, however, the Attorney General gave the opinion that the County Court had no legal authority to enter into a contract of this nature, and in order to facilitate matters and prevent delay in construction the State Highway Commission on September 10, 1918, agreed to take the work over at the prices bid by the County, the County agreeing to reimburse the State in case the cost of the work exceeded the bid prices.

The total estimated cost of all projects agreed upon to date is $1,409,993.24 of which $627,496.62 is to be paid by the Federal Government, $627,496.62 by the State, and $155,000.00 by the Counties interested. On page 24 is given a tabulation of the Post Road Projects approved, giving the estimated cost of each project with the respective amounts to be paid by the State, the Federal Government and the Counties.

FOREST ROAD PROJECTS

The Federal authorities and the State Highway Commission have to date agreed upon co-operation on fourteen Forest Road Projects. The total estimated cost of these fourteen projects is $1,246,204.65; $538,231.78 to be provided by the Government, $538,231.78 by the State, and $169,741.09 by the Counties.

Construction is already under way on three of the Forest Projects, namely: the Canyonville-Galesville section of the Pacific Highway in Douglas County, the Three Rivers Project in Tillamook County, and the Ochoco Canyon Project in Crook County.

POST ROAD PROJECTS

PROJECTS AGREED UPON TO NOVEMBER 30, 1918

=========+=======+========+=============+=================================== |Project| Miles | | Funds Provided Projects |Number | and | Estimated +-----------+-----------+----------- +----+ | Kind | Total | By | By | By | | of Work| Cost |Government | State | Counties --------------+--+--------+-------------+-----------+-----------+----------- Baker | | | | | | County: | | | | | | Baker-Middle |10|17.0 |$ 71,235.45|$ 28,117.73|$ 28,117.72|$ 15,000.00 Bridge | |miles-- | | | | section | |grading | | | | Sag Section | 9|4.9 | 41,926.00| 17,963.00| 17,963.00| 6,000.00 of Baker- | |miles-- | | | | Baker- | |grading | | | | Cornucopia | |and | | | | Road | |gravel | | | | Canyon |11|4.5 | 22,498.00| 8,249.00| 8,249.00| 6,000.00 Section of | |miles-- | | | | Baker- | |grading | | | | Cornucopia | | | | | | Road | | | | | | | | | | | | Grant County: | | | | | | John Day to |13|7.2 | 143,817.14| 71,908.57| 71,908.57| ...

Fiske Creek | |miles-- | | | | Section | |grading | | | | | |and | | | | | |gravel | | | | Hall Hill to |14|2.2 | 43,282.47| 21,641.23| 21,641.24| ...

Prairie | |miles-- | | | | City | |grading | | | | Section | |and | | | | | |gravel | | | | | | | | | | Harney County:| | | | | | Burns-Crane |15|6.0 | 48,000.00| 20,000.00| 20,000.00| 8,000.00 Project | |miles-- | | | | | |grading | | | | | |and | | | | | |gravel | | | | Malheur | | | | | | County: | | | | | | Project to be| | | 100,000.00| 40,000.00| 40,000.00| 20,000.00 selected | | | | | | | | | | | | Marion | | | | | | County: | | | | | | Salem- | 7|18.0 | 347,232.60| 173,616.30| 173,616.30| ...

Aurora | |miles-- | | | | Project | |grading | | | | | | | | | | Union County: | | | | | | Elgin-Minam | 5|9.3 | 41,151.00| 20,575.50| 20,575.50| ...

Project | |miles-- | | | | | |grading | | | | Union- | 8|6.0 | 30,000.00| 15,000.00| 15,000.00| ...

Telocaset | |miles-- | | | | Project | |grading | | | | | | | | | | Wasco County: | | | | | | The Dalles- |..|2.0 | 44,000.00| 20,000.00| 20,000.00| 4,000.00 Three Mile | |miles-- | | | | Creek | |paving | | | | Project | | | | | | | | | | | | Wheeler | | | | | | County: | | | | | | Fossil- | 4|9.5 | 36,733.40| 18,366.70| 18,366.70| ...

Sarvice | |miles-- | | | | Creek | |grading | | | | Project | | | | | | | | | | | | Wheeler and | | | | | | Grant | | | | | | Counties: | | | | | | Sarvice | 6|48.5 | 400,433.80| 157,216.90| 157,216.90| 86,000.00 Creek- | |miles-- | | | | Valades | |grading | | | | Ranch | | | | | | Project | | | | | | | | | | | | Yamhill | | | | | | County: | | | | | | Grande |12|2.8 | 39,683.38| 14,841.69| 14,841.69| 10,000.00 Ronde | |miles-- | | | | Project | |grading | | | | | |and | | | | | |gravel | | | | --------------+--+--------+-------------+-----------+-----------+----------- Total estimated cost|$1,409,993.24| | | of all Projects | | | | Federal Government | |$627,496.62| | Funds | | | | State Funds | | |$627,496.62| County Funds | | | |$155,000.00 --------------------------+-------------+-----------+-----------+-----------

The Canyonville-Galesville section is what is generally known as Cow Creek Canyon, one of the worst stretches on the Pacific Highway. This section is 9.7 miles in length, and is to be graded sixteen feet wide; the estimated total cost being $211,000.00. The work is under contract to John Hampshire & Co., of Grants Pa.s.s.

The Three Rivers Project is 10.35 miles in length and lies between Hebo and Dolph on the Portland-Tillamook Highway in Tillamook County. The County of Tillamook, represented by its County Court was the low bidder on this work, but before the contract was entered into, the Attorney General ruled that the County Court had no authority to contract work of this kind. The State Highway Department having available the necessary equipment and desiring to get this important piece of road work under way, agreed with the Federal Government to take the work over at the prices bid by Tillamook County.

A tabulation of Forest Road Projects approved to date and giving the estimated cost and amounts of County, State and Government Funds is given below.

FOREST ROAD PROJECTS

PROJECTS APPROVED TO NOVEMBER 30, 1918

=====================+=============+=================================== | | Funds Provided | Estimated +-----------+-----------+----------- Projects | Total | By | By | By | Cost | Government| State | County ---------------------+-------------+-----------+-----------+----------- Clackamas County: | | | | Zigzag Section of | | | | Mt. Hood Road |$ 48,000.00|$ 24,000.00|$ 24,000.00| ...

| | | | Crook County: | | | | Ochoco Canyon | 52,500.00| 17,500.00| 17,500.00| 17,500.00 Project | | | | | | | | Curry County: | | | | Curry-Coos Project | 110,000.00| 55,000.00| 55,000.00| ...

| | | | Deschutes-Lane | | | | Counties: | | | | McKenzie Pa.s.s | 190,455.00| 82,078.00| 82,078.00| 26,299.00 Project | | | | | | | | Douglas County: | | | | Canyonville- | 211,000.00| 94,000.00| 94,000.00| 23,000.00 Galesville | | | | Tiller Trail | 123,603.00| 48,439.00| 48,439.00| 26,725.00 Project | | | | | | | | Lake County: | | | | Lapine-Lakeview | 79,419.00| 39,709.50| 39,709.50| ...

Project | | | | | | | | Jackson County: | | | | Medford-Crater | | | | Lake Project | 72,372.00| 34,436.00| 34,436.00| 3,500.00 | | | | Josephine County: | | | | Grants Pa.s.s- | | | | Crescent City | 31,476.00| 15,738.00| 15,738.00| ...

Project | | | | | | | | Klamath County: | | | | Anna Creek Section | | | | of Crater Lake | 6,780.40| 3,390.20| 3,390.20| ...

Road | | | | | | | | Lane County: | | | | Eugene-Florence | 123,951.25| 41,317.08| 41.317.08| 41,317.09 Project | | | | | | | | Tillamook County: | | | | Three Rivers | 122,000.00| 50,250.00| 50,250.00| 21,500.00 Project | | | | | | | | Wallowa County: | | | | Flora-Enterprise | 29,648.00| 12,324.00| 12,324.00| 5,000.00 Project | | | | | | | | Wheeler County: | | | | Ochoco Canyon | 45,000.00| 20,050.00| 20,050.00| 4,900.00 Project | | | | +-------------+-----------+-----------+----------- Total estimated |$1,246,204.65| | | cost of all | | | | Projects | | | | Federal Govt. Funds| |$538,231.78| | State Funds | | |$538,231.78| County Funds | | | |$169,741.09 ---------------------+-------------+-----------+-----------+-----------

[Ill.u.s.tration: MOUNT ASHLAND FROM THE PACIFIC HIGHWAY IN JACKSON COUNTY.

ELEVATION OF HIGHWAY 4,480 FEET]