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Road News July 2019

Saltzman Road north end improvements planning to begin

Several years ago, a group of concerned residents lobbied the county to improve the north end of Saltzman Road where it dips and curves down to Laidlaw. Accidents and near-misses are common as trucks and school buses fill travel lanes while cars attempt to go in the other direction. Several options for improving the road were proposed, including an innovative bridge design.

Three options were beging considered in November, 2013 Click to see a larger image (PDF)

The group fell apart after a couple of the concerned neighbors moved away, as sometimes happens. But the problem didn’t disappear. In 2016 Washington County approved the Major Streets Transportation Improvement Program Phase 3e, with $5.3 million allocated for the Saltzman project. An additional $1.2 million is proposed to be included from the Bonny Slope West funding plan, for an estimated total of $6.5 million.

Now it’s time for Land Use and Transportation (LUT) to begin work on MSTIP 3e (Fiscal years 2018-19 to 2022-23). The Saltzman Road project (Laidlaw to Bayonne) preliminary design is expected to start after July 1, with the selection of a consultant and negotiation of a scope/fee. This will be followed by survey work.

The county will schedule an open house once enough data is collected, to present alternative alignments for public input. Specifically, alternatives are expected to include either a full improvement of the existing alignment, including wider travel lanes, bike lanes and sidewalks; or partial funding for improvement on an alignment to the west of the existing road. At this time, we do not have a timeframe for the open house.

The Findley Heights subdivision at the west side of the upper end of the “thrill ride” was built with a bit of right-of-way left undeveloped in case the western alignment is chosen.

Open House for West Union/Thompson sidewalk project

Monday, July 15, 5-7 pm, Cedar Mill Library, 12505 NW Cornell

Learn about the proposed design for this project that will complete sidewalk gaps on the north side of West Union and Thompson roads between Bronson Creek Drive and 153rd Terrace. Construction is expected in summer 2020. Cost is estimated at $1.2 million and is funded through the Urban Road Maintenance District.

Acquisition of the necessary right-of-way from adjacent property owners is usually the first step once the general design has been done. Staff from Washington County Department of Land Use & Transportation (LUT) will be on hand to answer questions. No formal presentation is planned; stop by any time during open house hours.

For more information, visit the project page or contact Washington County Department of Land Use & Transportation at lutproj@co.washington.or.us or 503-846-7800. If you need a sign or spoken language interpreter, please call 503-846-7822 (or 7-1-1 for Telecommunications Relay Service) at least 48 hours prior to this event.

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