Third Biennial Report of the Oregon State Highway Commission Part 26

Work opened up here in August under the supervision of C. A. Dunn, a.s.sistant engineer, for the Department. State forces are employed on force account basis. The expenditures to November 30 amount to $3,838.44, and the project is about 10% completed. R. A. Pratt is resident engineer for the State Department.

WALLOWA COUNTY

Wallowa County's road problem is entirely local in character as this district is not touched by a trunk road of the State system. Some very good natural roads are found in this district, while others are very bad. The latter designation applies more especially to some of the mountain roads, which are extremely narrow and very dangerous.

The La Grande-Joseph Highway is very important locally, since it is the only road connecting the valley with outside points. The people in general are very much interested in highway possibilities, but the County funds have proven inadequate to make much of a showing towards permanent work. Most of the available County funds are required for maintenance of the existing roads, many of which extend through mountainous areas. Additional State aid is much needed if any substantial improvements are hoped for.

A general reconnaissance survey was made in October, 1918, by the State Highway Department from Elgin to Joseph. The purpose was to gather general information for the use of the State Highway Commission. This survey was made by M. O. Bennett, division engineer for Eastern Oregon.

During this visit the matter of Post Road Aid was taken up with the County authorities. It was understood that the County would make application at once, but it appears that no further action was taken.

The State Highway Commission has extended aid to Wallowa County by co-operating on the Flora-Enterprise Forest Road and also helped to secure Government aid on the same project. The County made an appropriation to help in the construction of this road. Work is in progress on this road under the direction of the U. S. Office of Public Roads. The following statement shows the estimate cost and segregation of funds:

State appropriation $12,324.00 Federal appropriation 12,324.00 County appropriation 5,000.00 ---------- Total estimated cost $29,648.00

WASCO COUNTY

The Dalles-Three Mile Post Road Project

An appropriation has been made, by the State Highway Department, from the Post Road Fund for co-operation in the paving of a two mile section of The Dalles-California Highway between the east city limits of The Dalles and Three Mile Creek.

A project statement has been prepared, requesting $14,830.00 from the U.

S. Office of Public Roads. The State will supply a like amount and Wasco County $4,000.00. This makes a total of $33,660.00 which is the estimated cost of the project.

The present gravel road will serve as a base for the pavement which is to be 16 feet wide. The improvement will include re-ditching of the road bed and the installation of culvert pipe in several places.

It is planned that work will start early in 1910.

The Pine Hollow-Kingsley Post Road Project

The section of The Dalles-California Highway in Wasco County between Pine Hollow, near Dufur, and Kingsley is designated by the State Highway Commission as a Post Road. This section is 4.0 miles long and follows near the line of the present road. The project begins at the road forks 2 miles south of Dufur and ends at a point on the present road 1 miles north of Kingsley.

The plans provide for the grading of the road bed, the estimated cost of which is $14,500. The State and Government are each requested to appropriate $2,500.00 and the County will expend $9,500.00. It is expected this work will be done in 1919.

Antelope Grade Post Road Project

The State Highway Commission has designated as a Post Road a three mile section of The Dalles-California Highway immediately north of Antelope.

This is known as the Antelope Grade Section. The new road will be a 6% grade along near the present road.

The total estimated cost of grading to standard width and properly draining is $30,000.00; and the funds are to be provided as follows: State $2,500.00; Government, $2,500.00; and Wasco County, $25,000.00.

It is hoped this work will start early in 1919.

Survey--Seufert to the Deschutes River

A survey was made in April, 1918, for the Columbia River Highway between Seufert and the Deschutes River, along the river for the purpose of comparison with a previous survey over the hill, conforming closely to the present road.

This route, which was subsequently adopted, has a summit of 210 feet against 780 feet on the hill route, and a length of 12.8 miles, a saving of 2.7 miles in distance. Between The Dalles and Seufert about two miles was graded to standard width and grade in 1917. The proposed route follows close to the railroad, which is crossed near Big Eddy on a proposed overhead bridge and utilizes the old State Portage Railroad roadbed, as well as the already graded bank of the Government ca.n.a.l.

Near Celilo, another overhead crossing of the O.-W. R. R. & N. Co.

tracks is proposed, and from this point to the Deschutes River the highway is located between the Oregon Trunk Railroad and the O.-W. R. R.

& N. Co., using about two miles of abandoned railroad roadbed.

This improvement requires only very light construction, except for short distances, and it is believed it can be kept free from drifting blow sand by the use of sand fences, as the Portage Railroad is used where the sand is the worst, and this was kept open with very little maintenance. With a smooth roadbed, and with nothing to cause drifting, it is thought that the maintenance on this account will be negligible.

The route is attractive, as it makes available at close range the Locks at Big Eddy, the Celilo Ca.n.a.l, and the magnificent Celilo Falls. The estimated cost of this project is $142,500.00. It is proposed to include this project in the 1919 program.

Deschutes River Bridge.

Among the bridges expected to be built in the near future is the proposed reinforced concrete arch bridge over the Deschutes river at Miller, about a mile above the river's mouth. This will be a State and Inter-county structure, and will connect Sherman and Gilliam Counties on the Columbia River Highway, and will be located a few hundred feet below the present old wooden toll bridge which it will replace.

The design, which is practically completed, contemplates seven arch spans aggregating 580 feet in length with a filled approach at either end. The estimated cost of the bridge is $75,000.00.

WASHINGTON COUNTY

During 1917 and 1918, the State Highway Department in co-operation with Washington County has completed the grading, bridging and paving of the West Side Highway across that County. This work has involved the grading and paving of 12.5 miles and the construction of three bridges and one undergrade railway crossing. On this work, when final payments are complete, the State will have expended $292,000.00 and the County will have expended $10,000.00.

In addition to this construction, the Department has made surveys between Beaverton and Hillsboro and between Forest Grove and Gaston, and has furnished the County engineering services in connection with the grading of these two sections.

Paving--Multnomah County Line to Newberg

The pavement on the West Side State Highway between the Multnomah County Line and Newberg is 15.7 miles in length, of which 12.5 miles is in Washington County and 3.2 miles in Yamhill County. This pavement is a two-inch standard bitulithic surface on a crushed rock base. It is sixteen feet wide with a two-foot macadam shoulder on each side. The grading in Washington County and the paving in both Washington and Yamhill Counties was done by Oskar Huber of Portland under a contract awarded him on July 30, 1917. The work was started in August, 1917, and was completed in October, 1918.

[Ill.u.s.tration: COVERED WOOD BRIDGE OVER THE TUALATIN RIVER ON THE WEST SIDE HIGHWAY IN WASHINGTON COUNTY. BUILT IN 1918]

The grading in Washington County will cost complete approximately $39,699.85 of which Washington County has paid $9,395.00. The part of the paving within Washington County will cost complete $234,750.00 all of which is paid for from State Funds.

DETAILED STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES TO NOVEMBER 30, 1918 GRADING AND PAVING MULTNOMAH COUNTY LINE TO NEWBERG

Engineering $ 9,445.56 Right-of-Way Costs 49.98 Construction: Crushed Stone Shoulders, 163,663.4 lin. ft.

@ .06 $ 9,819.80 Standard Bitulithic Pavement, 149,764.4 Sq.

Yds. @ $1.28 191,698.43 Broken Stone, Loose Measure, 34,885.75 Cu.

Yds. at $2.40 83,725.80 Clearing and Grubbing 1,250.00 Common Excavation, 46,773.9 Cu. Yds. @ .34 15,903.13 Intermediate Excavation, 9,224.4 Cu. Yds. @ .62 5,719.13 Solid Rock Excavation, 385 Cu. Yds. @ $1.15 442.75 Overhaul per 100 Lin. Ft., 172,279.2 Cu. Yds.

@ .01 1,722.79 12-inch Reinf. Conc. Pipe, 1,568 Lin. Ft.

@ $1.25 1,960.00 24-inch Reinf. Conc. Pipe, 52 Lin. Ft. @ $2.45 127.40 36-inch Reinf. Conc. Pipe, 96 Lin. Ft. @ $4.25 408.00 6-inch Porous Drain Tile, 7,191 Lin. Ft. @ .15 1,078.65 Rip-Rap, 32 Cu. Yds @ $2.75 88.00 Force Account: Lowering and lengthening existing culverts 1,081.67 Replacing bridge approach at Tualatin River 50.27 Special wide ditches alongside road near Four Corners 814.50 Back-fill and planking at Onion Flat Trestle 405.94 Tearing down old trestles at Onion Flat 55.33 Replacing private water supply crossing 13.31 Rebuilding Right of Way Fences 70.85 Grading at Middleton R. R. Crossing 1,970.47 Blind Drains 189.68 New 30-foot Culvert 223.60 New 42-foot Culvert and special fill over it 468.26 Drain Tiling, back-filled with rock 582.09 ----------- Total amount earned by Contractor to Nov.

30, 1918 $319,869.85 Less amount retained pending completion of contract 50,388.46 ----------- Total paid contractor to November 30, 1918 269,481.39 ----------- Total expended to November 30, 1918 $278,976.93

Onion Flat Bridge