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POWER LIST: ENGINEERING

The Clackamas Regional Center has long been a drive-to destination for shopping and health care, with roads designed for vehicles first.

Clackamas County tasked Portland-based engineering firm Harper Houf Peterson Righellis Inc. with making bicyclists and pedestrians more than an afterthought in the regional center, which includes the Clackamas Town Center, Promenade and Kaiser Permanente Sunnyside Medical Center.

After completion, the changes are expected to provide better bicyclist and pedestrian links to Clackamas, the Kaiser Permanente hospital and a nearby MAX light-rail station. Bike lanes will be added to Sunnyside Road, which has none in some stretches.

For vehicles, additional turn lanes are in store to reduce traffic congestion coming to and from Clackamas Town Center. Currently, traffic there can grind to a crawl during the busy Christmas shopping season.

The project is under construction now, with completion expected in the fall. Clackamas County is the client, and the construction budget is approximately $24 million.

As part of the improvements, HHPR is widening a bridge that spans Interstate 205 at Sunnyside Road. The project will add a raised sidewalk and cycle track on each side, providing a physical buffer from cars and trucks. For autos, a second right turn lane is being added from northbound I-205 to eastbound Sunnyside Road and a third entrance lane onto the northbound I-205 on-ramp from Sunnyside.

Such projects are increasingly common, said Dan Houf, HHPR鈥檚 president and consultant project manager.

鈥淚 think you鈥檙e going to see this trend of bike-pedestrian facilities separated from the roadway more and more,鈥� Houf said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e doing a lot of projects like that.鈥�

The bridge will also get a decorative railing with LED lights, similar to the one that spans Interstate 5 near Woodburn Premium Outlets.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be an awesome project for the region,鈥� Houf said.