Posted
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, August 11, 2015
Plans on track for weekend closureUPDATED: 08/11/2015
The recent fire on a nearby trestle has not changed the plan to replace the Tualatin-Sherwood Road railroad crossing. Most rail traffic uses another spur accessed by the crossing at Tualatin-Sherwood Road, so replacement of the crossing is still needed.
The road is scheduled to be closed for up to 72 hours starting at 7 p.m., Friday, August 21.
Original release: 7/7/15
Tualatin-Sherwood Road will be closed to all traffic at the railroad crossing west of Oregon Street for up to 72 hours starting at 7 p.m. Friday, August 21.
The road will be closed to all motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists. Signs will identify detour routes. The road will reopen as soon as work is completed.
Background
The railroad crossing on Tualatin-Sherwood Road between Southwest Oregon Street and Southwest Gerda Lane is in need of replacement to ensure the safety of road and railroad users.
To improve the ride quality for vehicles and long-term serviceability of the railroad tracks, the rails and underlying supports will be removed and replaced with materials meeting today's engineering standards. The new crossing is expected to remain serviceable for at least 20 years.
The work requires Tualatin-Sherwood Road to be closed for up to 72 hours. To reduce future inconvenience and to save taxpayer dollars, the new crossing will be constructed to accommodate possible future widening of Tualatin-Sherwood Road. The existing hardware associated with the gates and crossing arms will remain in place.
There is no convenient time to close a rail crossing with high-traffic volumes. A traffic study conducted by the county identified the days when travelers would experience the least disruption. The road closure dates also required coordination with anticipated rail traffic and were chosen to minimize impact on both the Tualatin and Sherwood communities.
County crews are aware of the volume of traffic on Tualatin-Sherwood Road and the lack of convenient detours. Every effort will be made to complete the work as quickly and as safely as possible in order to reopen the road as soon as possible. Traveler patience is appreciated.
For more information, visit the project web page at http://bit.ly/T-S_RR or contact Victoria Saager at 503-846-7616 or [email protected].
Washington County is committed to planning, building and maintaining a great transportation system, ensuring the safety of all roadway users, and to operating the county roadway system in a cost-effective and environmentally responsible manner.
Media Contact:
Melissa De Lyser, Communications Coordinator503-846-4963
[email protected]