Welcome to the Washington County Land Use & Transportation 4th Quarterly Update - a newsletter for all things LUT!


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County adds fourth snow zone

We have installed signs for the new snow zone on Grabhorn Road in time for winter weather. Snow zones are areas where traction devices are required on all vehicles in inclement weather.


The four snow zones in Washington County have high elevations and steep grades. We activate snow zones in icy and snowy travel conditions when vehicles without traction devices are more likely to crash.


Requiring chains or snow tires improves safety and limits crashes. This also reduces the number of abandoned vehicles, allowing us to plow and sand roads more quickly.


Our four snow zones are on:


  1. 175th Avenue, between Scholls Ferry and Rigert roads
  2. Barnes Road, 118th Avenue east to the County line, adjacent to a city of Portland snow zone
  3. Cornell Road, Cedar Hills Boulevard east to the County line
  4. Grabhorn Road, between Farmington and Tile Flat roads
See Snow Zones

County installing first 'HAWK' pedestrian crossing signal  

Aloha drivers will soon see a new kind of pedestrian crossing signal as part of the 170th Avenue and Florence Street project.  


A High-intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK) signal will be activated at the intersection later this winter. Pedestrians can push a button to activate a red light, requiring motorists to stop so pedestrians can cross. Evidence shows that HAWK signals are effective at getting drivers to yield to pedestrians on high-traffic roads with two or more travel lanes in each direction.  


For pedestrians, the HAWK signal will look like a normal button-activated walk signal. For drivers, the triangular three-light sequence may be new. 

Learn more about HAWK signals

Wrapping up FY 2022-23: Serving our Community

Learn about LUT's activities, projects and more in Wrapping up FY 2022-23: Serving our Community. We share fiscal year data compilations to celebrate the accomplishments of our dedicated LUT employees, other County staff and our community partners. Together, we work to keep our community safe, healthy and vibrant.

Centerline Miles of

Paving and Sealing


FY 2022-23: 34

FY 2021-22: 28

More from Road Maintenance

Requests for Traffic Signs, Striping and Other Issues Evaluated


FY 2022-23: 2,292

FY 2021-22: 1,936

More from Traffic  Engineering 

In-Office Customer Interactions


FY 2022-23: 2,033

FY 2021-22: 1,544

More from Building Services

ADA Ramps - URMD Funding


FY 2022-23: 108

FY 2021-22: 101

More from Capital Projects 

There's more ...

SURVEYOR'S

OFFICE

SERVICE DISTRICT FOR LIGHTING

DEVELOPMENT REVIEW

SERVICE REQUESTS

URBAN ROAD MAINTENANCE DISTRICT

NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS PROGRAM

STUDIES AND PROJECTS

ADOPT-A-ROAD

ORDINANCES

EVENT PERMITS

See all data

SNR Team continues responding to FAQs

Our Community Planning staff continues to answer questions raised by more than 300 people who attended our Oct. 24 Significant Natural Resources: A Focused Look Community Forum. 


In addition to contacting people individually, staff is answering questions on SNR: A Focused Look Frequently Asked Questions. The page is updated regularly as staff continue to respond to questions asked most often.  

Read the FAQs

Get familiar with County snowplow routes

During severe winter weather events, we don’t have enough resources to address all of the 1,300 miles of county-maintained roads throughout Washington County. That’s why we have identified priority routes for snow plowing and ice control. 


About 426 miles are included in our snowplow and ice control routes. We prioritize routes that connect important buildings, emergency services and major corridors.


No two winter weather events are ever the same, so we often make decisions based on the areas most impacted. Neighborhood streets aren’t plowed outside of extreme conditions and until we clear higher priority roads. 

See Ice Control/Snow Map

Transportation News

Martin Road roundabout, bridge nearing completion

The Highway 47 roundabout at Martin Road is expected to be complete in spring.


Asphalt work around the roundabout and center islands is finished. Ongoing work includes:


  • Pouring concrete for islands and sidewalks
  • Installing signs
  • Striping


Shoulders on Martin Road near the highway will be widened after the roundabout and bridge are complete. The northbound lane will close for construction after Martin Road reopens.

Learn more at Martin Road at Hwy 47

Thatcher Road closure at Gales Creek Road starts Jan. 4

Thatcher Road will be closed at Gales Creek Road (OR-8) from Jan. 4-Feb. 3. Traffic will detour to Vista Drive and Watercrest Road.


Washington County and the city of Forest Grove are partnering to realign the Gales Creek and Thatcher roads intersection to improve sight distance. We are also:


  • Installing a crosswalk across Gales Creek Road
  • Installing 350 feet of sidewalk west of the new crosswalk on the south side of Gales Creek Road 
  • Installing a sidewalk on the north side of Thatcher Road from Snapdragon Lane to Gales Creek Road
  • Building a paved pad for a GroveLink bus stop
Visit Gales Creek/Thatcher Road

Construction of bridge over Butternut Creek continues

The new Cornelius Pass Road bridge over Butternut Creek is taking shape.


The bridge has 17 reinforced concrete girders, each 178 feet long and 95 inches tall. The girders are fitted on special rubber pads and connected with durable concrete for earthquake resiliency.


Installation of a suspended pedestrian path under the bridge will begin after the bridge surface is complete.

Visit Cornelius Pass Road Bridge over Butternut Creek 

Design work begins for Timber Road repairs

We expect Timber Road to reopen by the end of 2024, as design work on the landslide stabilization repair begins. 


Timber Road remains closed between Strassel and Cochran roads. In summer 2023, our design consultant completed a geotechnical evaluation to learn about the landslide and propose repairs.  


We have selected a repair option, and design is continuing through spring. We expect construction to begin in summer. Sign up to receive project updates by email.

Learn more at Timber Road Landslide repair

Upcoming Events

Jan. 9

Jan. 15

Jan. 19 - March 1

Council Creek Elected Officials Committee Meeting

Martin Luther King Day Offices Closed

Vision for Transit

Online Open House

Jan. 25

Jan. 26 - Feb. 11

Feb. 19

Kaiser Road Project

In-person Open House

Stringtown Road Bridge Online Open House (tentative)

Presidents' Day

Offices Closed

March 1-29

March 21

Significant Natural Resources Code Concepts Online Open House (tentative)

Significant Natural Resources Code Concepts In-person Open House (tentative)

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Washington County Department of

Land Use & Transportation

www.washingtoncountyor.gov/lut