| U.S. 26 (Sunset Highway) Modernization Project: Cornell Road to 185th Avenue |
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| Project Information |
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ODOT began construction in June 2010 on a highway widening project on U.S. 26 (Sunset Highway) between Cornell Road and 185th Avenue. The project contractor is Granite Northwest, Inc.
Project Background
The existing section of U.S. 26 (Sunset Highway) between Cornell Road and 185th Avenue is inadequate to meet the current or long-term capacity needs of the Sunset Corridor. This project will address the capacity issues by adding an additional travel lane in both directions on U.S. 26 from Cornell Road to 185th Avenue – a distance of about 2 miles. Once complete, there will be three lanes in each direction from downtown Portland to 185th Avenue. This project will provide congestion relief and enhance access to commercial, industrial, and residential properties in Washington County.
Highway widening will take place on the outside (right) shoulders in both directions. Additional project elements include:
* Widening left and right shoulders
* Adding cable barrier in the center median
* Upgrading signs
* Improving storm water management with an innovative filter drain
* Building a retaining wall at Bronson Creek
* Improving traffic flow and lane capacity on the westbound Cornell Road off-ramp and both eastbound 185th Avenue on-ramps
* Paving and striping the project area
* Landscaping
**** Look here for a graphic detailing U.S. 26 before, during and after construction. This graphic shows the current traffic configuration as well as the layers required for building the new travel lanes.
Look here for a map of the project area.
Schedule and Traffic Impacts
Construction began June 2010 and will be complete summer 2012. There will be a mix of daytime work behind barriers and nighttime work with lane closures. During nighttime work, motorists will experience single and double lane closures on the highway and ramps starting as early as 9:30 p.m. Motorists should be aware of trucks entering and exiting the work zone.
June 2010 to January 2011: The contractor focused on shoulder widening in the center median and setting the stage for the additional travel lanes. The center median was paved to temporarily move traffic over to create a work zone in the (former) right lane and shoulder. The contractor needed the right lane in each direction to stage equipment to build the new permanent lanes on the outside of the highway.
Winter 2011: Work focused on building the new retaining wall on the north side of U.S. 26 at Bronson Creek. Due to the wet weather, work on the widening portion of the project was halted until the spring. The excavation and embankment being built to support the new travel lanes cannot be built in the rain.
Spring 2011 through summer 2012: The contractor will excavate and build the embankment for the new travel lanes, construct the storm water system, and perform final paving, striping, cable barrier installation and landscaping. There will be concrete barrier along the right edge of the highway in both directions until the new lanes open. The new third lane in the eastbound direction opened in November 2011 and the new third lane in the westbound direction opened December 2011. Final paving, striping and cleanup work will be complete in summer 2012.
Read the weekly construction news, a report listing the traffic impacts on the project updated each Friday.
Nighttime Noise
When nighttime work occurs, construction noise may be audible to residents living along the project corridor. ODOT will work with neighbors on an individual basis to resolve any noise complaints or concerns. A 24 hour noise hotline number is available and can be called to report noise concerns. That number is (503) 646-0231.
Project funding
The project is funded with a combination of federal, state, and county dollars. The Oregon Legislature provided funds the majority of the funding through the 2009 Jobs and Transportation Act (JTA). This is the first JTA project in the state to begin construction. The estimated construction cost for the project is $12 million.
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| ODOT Contact Information |
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Lili Boicourt, ODOT Community Affairs Coordinator
503-731-8247
Lili.D.Boicourt@odot.state.or.us
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