Tualatin-Sherwood railroad crossing replacement finished early

For Immediate Release: Monday, August 24, 2015

Road open to traffic at about 9 p.m. Sunday

Replacement of the Portland & Western (P&W) railroad crossing on Tualatin-Sherwood Road was completed about 22 hours ahead of schedule, minimizing the inconvenience to weekend travelers.

Crews from Washington County Land Use & Transportation (LUT) and P&W worked diligently to make sure the crossing was replaced as quickly and safely as possible to ensure motorists, bicyclists and others reached their destinations with minimal delay, said Andrew Singelakis, LUT director.

"LUT and P&W crew members were very much aware of the inconvenience associated with an August weekend closure of a roadway that leads to the coast," Singelakis said. "They made every effort to complete the job well inside the 72-hour window that we estimated for the project."

The road was closed at 7 p.m. Friday and opened at about 9 p.m. Sunday. The closure was expected to last until 7 p.m. Monday. The weekend closure was scheduled based on results of a traffic study that identified the August 21 weekend as one when both travelers and the railroad would experience the least disruption. A weekend closure also minimized the impact on commuters and freight and commercial trucking, said Dave Schamp, LUT Operations and Maintenance manager.

"Weather played into the decision, as late August and early September historically provide the most consistent favorable weather patterns," Schamp said."Getting the work completed before school started was also a priority, since the closure would have impacted school bus routes."

County staff began notifications of the closure in early June. Detour information was publicized well in advance, and routes were well marked, Schamp said.

"Good advance planning and coordination with P&W crews are what made the early opening possible," Schamp said.

To reduce additional inconvenience to travelers and to save taxpayer dollars, the new crossing was built to accommodate possible future widening of Tualatin-Sherwood Road.

"The crossing is expected to be serviceable for at least 20 years," Schamp said. "We understand that this short-term closure was inconvenient, but it will have long-term benefits."

Washington County is committed to planning, building and maintaining a great transportation system, ensuring the safety of all roadway users, and operating the county roadway system in a cost-effective and environmentally responsible manner.

Related: Tualatin-Sherwood Road to Close for Railroad Crossing Replacement and Tualatin-Sherwood Road RR Project website

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