ODOT presents Perrydale–Kings Valley roundabout plan; Polk County seeks contract clarifications

Oregon Department of Transportation officials on Dec. 10 presented the Perrydale Road to Kings Valley Highway safety project to the Polk County Board of Commissioners and asked the county to sign an agreement allowing work in county right of way and temporary acquisition of easements. For the record, Chair and multiple commissioners emphasized the project is ODOT‑led, not a county obligation: "Bottom line is this is an ODOT project, not a Polk County project," the chair said.

Anna Henson, ODOT area manager, introduced the presentation and handed it to Paul Welch, the project's senior project manager. Welch described two primary work areas: a realignment and safety improvements at the Perrydale Road intersection and a new roundabout at Kings Valley/Smithfield/Cobell roads. ODOT framed the work as a federally funded safety project intended to reduce severe crashes and fatalities at a high‑priority location on OR‑22.

ODOT provided a near‑term schedule and procurement milestones. Staff said the internal "PS need" deadline to submit completed paperwork is Dec. 22, 2025 and that the agency expects to advertise the project…