ODOT (along with the City of North Plains and Washington County) previously developed a draft Interchange Area Management Plan (IAMP) for the U.S. 26/Glencoe Road interchange, which identified $80 to $90 million of interchange improvements.
The 2009 Oregon Legislature allocated $32 million in the Jobs and Transportation Act (JTA) to fund improvements to the interchange. ODOT worked with the city and county to develop a design concept that meets the $32 million budget provided. The project will prioritize safety and mobility improvements and strive to increase capacity for the most critical movements.
Project Elements:
- Replacing the Glencoe Road bridge over U.S. 26 with a new, four-lane bridge (the bridge will be built wide enough to accommodate five lanes in the future)
- Lengthening and widening the U.S. 26 westbound exit ramp
- Replacing the culvert on Glencoe Road to the north of the interchange with a new structure
- Improving pedestrian and bicycle connections on the new bridge over U.S. 26
- Improving intersection components, including traffic signals, signing, striping, drainage and water quality
Glencoe Interchange
The existing two-lane Glencoe Road over-crossing lacks adequate shoulders, turn lanes, and bicycle/pedestrian accommodations. The most significant safety issue is that the existing westbound off-ramp is not long enough to safely accommodate vehicles using the interchange, creating backups onto U.S. 26.
In addition, the interchange cannot support the projected increase in traffic volumes, both from the adjacent City of North Plains and the larger regional vicinity, which includes the Cities of Hillsboro, Cornelius, and Forest Grove. The interchange is an important access point from U.S. 26 to these cities. The U.S. 26/Glencoe Road interchange modernization project is intendend to support economic development and mobility in the region. This project is needed to support present and planned land use and industrial development in western Washington County.
Traffic impacts and schedule
Work began in July 2012 and will be complete in summer 2014. The majority of the traffic impacts will happen at night. The Glencoe Road overpass will remain open at all times. During any ramp or road closures, a signed detour will be in place. There are 5 stages of construction:
** Stage 1 (July 2012 to March 2013; complete): Work includes building the west half of the new overpass, building a new alignment of Glencoe Road from U.S. 26 to just beyond Beach Road and building the Ghost Creek Bridge. Traffic impacts: There will be daytime and nighttime flagging on Glencoe Road, ramp shoulder closures and possible nighttime ramp closures. U.S. 26 under Glencoe Road will be entirely closed for up to a week at night to set steel beams for the new bridge. During the highway closure, traffic will be routed onto the Glencoe Road off-ramps and back to the highway using the Glencoe Road on-ramps. Near the end of Stage 1, Beach Road will be closed at Glencoe Road for one weekend to raise the road to match the new overpass alignment and to install drainage features.
** Stage 2 (March 17 - 24, 2013; complete): Work includes raising and reconstructing the Glencoe Road westbound on-ramp and eastbound off-ramp to match the new overpass alignment. Traffic impacts: The Glencoe Road westbound on-ramp and eastbound off-ramp will be fully closed during this 1-week work period. A fully signed detour will be in place directing traffic to the Jackson School Road interchange.
** Stage 3 (March 24 - 29, 2013; complete): Stage 3 begins immediately after the completion of Stage 2. Traffic on Glencoe Road will be shifted onto the newly constructed west half of the overpass. Work in Stage 3 includes raising and reconstructing the Glencoe Road eastbound on-ramp and westbound off-ramp to match the new overpass alignment. Traffic impacts: the ramps that were closed in Stage 2 will now be open. The Glencoe Road eastbound on-ramp and westbound off-ramp will be fully closed during this stage which will begin at 10 p.m. Sunday night and end 5 a.m. Friday morning. A fully signed detour will be in place directing traffic to the Dersham Road interchange.
** Stage 4 (April 2013 to fall 2013; we are here): Work includes building the east half of the new overpass and continuing construction of Ghost Creek bridge. Traffic impacts: These will be very similar to the impacts during Stage 1. Traffic will be in its final configuration when this stage is complete.
** Stage 5 (spring 2014 to summer 2014): Work includes final paving and striping of Glencoe Road and the ramps. Traffic impacts: There will be daytime and nighttime flagging on Glencoe Road, ramp shoulder closures and possible nighttime ramp closures.
Nighttime noise
Work on this project will take place during the day and night. ODOT has obtained a noise variance from the City of North Plains and Washington County for the nighttime work. Residences and businesses adjacent to the project area may experience construction noise. There are several measures already in place to help mitigate the noise. A phone number is available for reporting noise problems or incidents requiring immediate attention. That number is 503-646-0231.
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