Transportation Maintenance

Since the big flood in 1996, county leaders have been looking to move the Transportation Maintenance division to higher ground with a safer, more environmentally-reliable location to serve our community for our daily operations and in times of emergency.

Our 100-member team maintains the integrity and safety of 186 bridges, and 1,400 miles of county roads including shoulders, culverts, guardrails, traffic signals and signs. We operate the Canby Ferry and run the Adopt-A-Road program.

We’re always on call to respond to weather conditions and emergencies to maintain safety on our roadways.

Where we moved to

In 2023, staff and operations moved to a new 11-acre site at 19246 Wacheno Parkway, Oregon City near Clackamas Community College. County services onsite include Transportation Maintenance and Fleet Services. Our team is more resilient at this new location, with structures built to modern seismic standards on a hill over bedrock rather than in a floodplain.

Community benefits of moving include:

• Maintaining a central location with access to rural and urban areas of the county.
• Building structures to modern seismic standards on a hill near bedrock rather than in a floodplain.
• Improving resilience for our first responders to attend to community needs during a flood, earthquake or other emergency efficiently and effectively.
• Preparing building for solar arrays on roof.
• Bringing additional improvements to the area to open development for employment lands including traffic signal improvements and construction of a roadway to future commercial business in Oregon City.
• Returning the Abernethy site to the tax rolls of Oregon City for development.

Where we moved from

The Transportation Maintenance division has been protecting the traveling public on 20 acres (about 10 acres of usable land) at 902 Abernethy, Oregon City, since at least 1903. The property housed four buildings, a repair shop, material stockpiles, vehicles and equipment.

The buildings were not able to withstand an earthquake and the property sits in a floodplain, presenting a risk to public safety response as we saw in the 1996 floods.

Project funding

Approximately $34 million to purchase a completed facility (land, building, entitlements, required infrastructure improvements). The funding is compiled from a variety of sources including: 

• $20 million bond with annual debt service less than $1.3 million. Of that $1.3 million, portions of the debt service will be covered by building occupants such as Fleet Services and Transportation Maintenance. The Transportation Maintenance portion of the debt service is covered by the State Highway Fund over 20 years and equates to less than 3.5% of our state highway revenues.
• Land sale proceeds 
• State and county ARPA Lost Revenue Proceeds

No Community Road Fund/vehicle registration fees will be used.

Project description

Replace the existing bridge with an open bottom, fish-friendly bridge in the same location. Includes stream channel grading, creating a vegetated swale for stormwater treatment, and installing in-stream logs, boulders and woody debris for fish habitat.

Schedule

Construction will occur between June and October 2024. This project is expected to take 5 months.

Things to be aware of

• A complete road closure will be needed during bridge removal and replacement work between July and October. Expect delays up to 20 minutes when single lane closures are possible. 

Current activities

• A contract has been awarded to Bent, LLC
• Preparing for construction

Funding

• $350,000 in grant funding received through the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board
• Project will be supplemented by county road funds

Project description: The county initially closed SE Aldercrest Road on Feb. 14, 2019, when the landslide occurred. After a thorough investigation, the road failure was determined to be caused by groundwater seepage nine feet below the road surface. Crews will build a retaining wall and manage groundwater with a drainage system below the road. Clackamas River Water will also be on site to replace the existing water line.

Updated: 10/30/19

Status: Construction complete

Schedule:

• Construction start: Oct. 2019; Crews will be onsite 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday through Friday
• Construction complete: Oct 30, 2019

Things to be aware of:

• There will be vehicle traffic impacts during construction of this project.
• The roadway continues to be unsafe for vehicle traffic, so we ask that everyone please respect and obey the closure signs and barriers, and follow the Thiessen/Oatfield detour route. The road closure and detour will remain in place until the repair is complete. Local traffic and emergency vehicles will still have access up to the work zone.

Funding:

• Funding is provided from Clackamas County Road Funds.

Thank you for your patience during this extended closure. We realize this is an inconvenience and appreciate your cooperation to help keep all travelers safe.

Individuals, organizations and businesses collectively pick up 60 tons of trash along county roadways each year, improving the cleanliness of the community and environmental health of the region.

• Application 
• Volunteer agreement
• Release of liability form 

Volunteer to pick up litter along county roadways

Help maintain your 1,400 miles of county roads by volunteering to clean up litter along a roadway near you. We help coordinate your events and remove bagged garbage, and supply you with grapplers, safety vests, plastic bags, roadside warning signs and sign stands.

Get recognized

We install road signs recognizing community groups or individuals who clean at least 1 mile of road twice a year.

Program requirements

• Adopt a county road for at least 2 years
• Pick up litter at least twice a year
• Install temporary traffic warning signs while you are picking up litter
• Gather and return county equipment
• Volunteers must be at least 18 years old, or can be 12-18 with a guardian present
• Sign a waiver for each participant