Palo Cedro 4' Soft Median Safety Project
Palo Cedro 4' Soft Median Safety Project
The Palo Cedro 4' Soft Median Safety Project is a safety improvement project that will improve safety on State Route 44 from Post Mile R4.15 to R7 by reducing the frequency and severity of crossover collisions. The project will widen the highway and install approximately 9,820 linear feet of four-foot median buffer zone, along with improvements to the Stillwater Creek and Clough Creek bridges, guardrail, culverts, signs, roadside recovery areas, and corner sight distance. The project limits were identified through the statewide crossover collision monitoring program following five cross-centerline collisions between 2017 and 2021, including one fatality and two serious injuries. Construction is anticipated for 2031.
Purpose:
To reduce the frequency and severity of crossover collisions.
Need:
This section of State Route 44, from .2 miles west of Stillwater Creek Bridge to the Deschutes Road Undercrossing, has been identified in the statewide crossover collision monitoring program for collisions that occurred between 2017 and 2021. Five total cross-centerline collisions occurred, one resulting in fatality, two seriously injured, and two minor injured. The fatal-collision rate for all collision types within the project limits is more than 2.3 times the statewide average during the monitoring period.
Project Overview:
This project would include:
- Widening State Route 44 and installing approximately 9,820 linear feet of 4-foot median buffer-zone
- Widening two bridges, Stillwater Creek and Clough Creek Bridge, and replacing the bridge rail.
- Repairing, replacing, or extending two culverts to accommodate the buffer-zone and Crash Recovery Zone improvements.
- Replacing approximately 711 linear feet of guardrail.
- Constructing approximately 6,890 linear feet of guardrail.
- Replacing 16 signs.
- Constructing approximately 2,482 linear feet of Rail Element Wall.
- Installing vehicle turnouts.
- Filling slopes within the Crash Recovery Zone.
- Cutting slopes to improve corner sight distance.
Funding:
State Highway Operation and Protection Program (SHOPP), receiving both state and federal funds.
