You probably won’t notice much difference at 12:01 a.m. Monday, March 1 but that’s the moment that ODOT will take over responsibility for 8.1 miles of Cornelius Pass Road from Multnomah County and Washington County.
The jurisdictional transfer, directed by the Oregon Legislature, turns over maintenance and operation of the road between U.S. 26 and U.S. 30 to ODOT. South of U.S. 26, the road will remain a Washington County Road. Here's more information about the transfer.
The only immediate change will be the addition of signs newly-designating the road as OR 127. All roads operated by ODOT carry an official road number. Later this summer ODOT is planning to pave the new highway between U.S. 30 and the Multnomah county line.
In street signs, addresses and other public designations, the road will continue to be known as Cornelius Pass Road although officially it will go in the ODOT books as Cornelius Pass Highway, its designation as a highway is a necessary part of its assignment as a state road.
The transfer will change how projects on the road are planned, designed, funded and delivered.
The section of the road between U.S. 26 (Sunset Highway) and U.S. 30 (St. Helens Road) plays an important part in the region’s transportation system. Loads with hazardous materials cannot use the Vista Ridge Tunnel, which mean hazmat trucks often use Cornelius Pass Road to get around.
In recent years the road has also become increasingly busy route connecting Columbia County with the growing job market in Washington County.
The transfer comes after Multnomah County completed upgrades last year that included easing some sharp curves, adding warning signs and adding some new guard rails. Details about the county improvements.
Source: ODOT