CLACKAMAS COUNTY
The work under the supervision of the Highway Department in Clackamas County during 1917 and 1918 has consisted of 4.5 miles of grading between New Era and Oregon City, 7.5 miles of paving between Oregon City and Canby, and 0.2 miles of grading between Oswego and the Multnomah County Line. The first of these jobs was done by the State and County in co-operation; the second was a strictly State job; and the third was a County job supervised by the State.
The total expenditure on the work done in Clackamas County was $198,952.24, of which Clackamas County paid $43,091.14 and the State $155,861.10.
Between New Era and Oregon City, the Pacific Highway has been graded on an entirely new location, paralleling the Southern Pacific Railway along the bank of the Willamette River instead of following the location of the old road farther back from the river, where the grading is not so heavy, but where a number of heavy grades are required. In addition to eliminating these heavy grades, a considerable saving in distance is effected, and the dangerous crossing under the Southern Pacific tracks at Oregon City is avoided.
Grading—Vicinity of New Era
On August 20, 1917, bids were considered by the State Highway Commission for the grading of two and one-half miles on the Pacific Highway near New Era. The most satisfactory proposal received was a cost plus ten per cent proposal submitted by the Warren Construction Company, and a contract was entered into with that firm on the cost plus ten per cent basis.
This work involved the grading of New Era Hill, just south of New Era, and some heavy rock excavation from New Era north. After the work had started, it was decided to pave between Oregon City and Canby, and the contract for this paving let to the Oregon Hassam Paving Company. The most feasible place to secure the crushed rock necessary for this paving was from the rock being excavated under the grading contract with the Warren Construction Company, and the Highway Department entered into an agreement with the paving company, whereby the state would crush the rock from a big cut at New Era, and furnish the crushed rock for the paving upon certain agreed terms, the crushing to be done under the cost plus contract with the Warren Construction Company.
On this basis the work was carried on by the Warren Construction Company until March 1, 1918, at which time it was deemed advisable by the Highway Commission to take the work over and complete it with State forces.
The total cost of the grading and rock crushing was $66,000.00, and the amount received for the crushed rock furnished for the paving was $19,850.00. Clackamas County co-operated with the State on this work, the total amount paid out of County funds being $15,009.91.