Molalla Pioneer Online

ODOT gives Mulino residents roadwork overview

Open house offers residents more information on plans to replace bridge and improve safety on Highway 213 in Mulino

• By: Bethany Monroe  
• Published: 2/1/2010 8:45:33 PM

Photo By: Tim MaronayMulino Highway 213 project
Cars cross the soon-to-be-replaced Milk Creek Bridge in Mulino, one of several projects planned by ODOT to improve Highway 213.

Oregon Department of Transportation’s bridge construction and road widening project on Highway 213 in Mulino is now underway and an open house last Tuesday offered community members information on what to expect in upcoming months.

“I’ve been working on this project for about four or five years now,” said project leader Rick Keene. “It’s a great project, I think. It’s really going to benefit the community.”

ODOT’s plans include replacing the aging Milk Creek Bridge, built in the 1920s, and improving safety by widening the highway to allow for a larger shoulder and continuous left-turn lane.

Graves Road will be closed for improvements at some point during the project, but ODOT plans to keep Highway 213 open through the project’s duration, Keene said, although traffic delays should be anticipated.

Some drivers have already experienced long delays as a result of the project. ODOT Community Affairs Coordinator Elizabeth Craig said in an e-mail Monday that delays drivers experienced last Friday will not be the norm.

Northwest Natural and ODOT’s contractor were both working on projects using separate flaggers Friday, so traffic was held up twice. When they realized the problem, ODOT put a stop to their tree removal project and Craig said they are working to coordinate better with utility companies in the future to avoid further double-delays.

This week, drivers should anticipate possible lane closures on Highway 213 in Mulino between 9:15 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. while contractors construct temporary fencing and remove trees and brush, Craig said. Similar closures are expected next week while they begin laying water lines.

The contractor is permitted to hold traffic for up to 20 minutes, Craig said.

“I’m asking folks to be patient,” Keene said. “It’s really going to be a huge improvement in 18 to 24 months.”

Local business in Mulino will remain open through the project’s duration and the contractor is not permitted to block access to private residences or businesses, Keene said.

Keene said studies have shown that drivers tend to drive faster in rural areas, but are more likely to slow down if they see sidewalks. So, as part of their safety improvements, ODOT is adding sidewalks.

The project also addresses safety concerns at the Graves Road intersection, which has been the site of several accidents due to poor visibility, Keene said. He expects one of the project’s largest benefits to be improved site distance.

He also hopes the improvements on Graves Road will encourage drivers to use it instead of Passmore Road, which runs through Mulino Elementary School’s property.

Mulino residents had requested a traffic light by the school, but ODOT studies found that a signal could not be justified, Keene said.

“As much congestion as you see there now, we are confident that the improvements we’re going to make will improve it,” Keene said.

They will also not be replacing the crosswalk at the intersection, since there is no flashing light or other traffic control to warn drivers of pedestrians.

“National statistics show there are a high number of accidents, injuries and deaths in unprotected crosswalks,” Keene said.

Another major aspect of the project is construction of a new, three-lane bridge over Milk Creek with curbs and a bike lane, Keene said. The bridge will be constructed in two stages, allowing contractors to keep one lane open to traffic and avoid detours.

The $5.4 million project will mostly be footed by ODOT, but some costs will hit the local community.

Marvin “Yogi” Trogdon, superintendent of Mulino Water District, said the project will require the installation of 3,500 feet of new water line, costing about $280,000. Mulino Water District will pay $211,000 and ODOT will pay the rest to cover the lines on side streets that are not within the water district’s jurisdiction.

“For a small water district, it’s pretty much wiped out most of our funds,” Trogdon said.

He said they have enough money in their account to cover the cost, but would likely need to ask voters to approve a bond for any future projects.

Jane Estes, Region One utilities specialist for ODOT, said some of the current pipes have asbestos wrapping and are not worth saving, so they will all be replaced.

For more information on the project and for updates, visit ODOT’s Web page dedicated to the Mulino project. The Molalla Pioneer will also post updates at www.molallapioneer.com.  

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