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Commissioners flag Columbia River Highway jurisdiction, safety and ODOT limits
Summary
At the commission meeting, members raised concerns about ODOT-imposed limits on improvements to the historic Columbia River Highway, discussed the prospect of the city buying sections of roadway, and cited safety problems at a blind corner near Stark Street.
Commissioners flagged ongoing constraints on improvements to the Columbia River Highway and discussed whether the city could seek to acquire sections of roadway from the state to gain more control over maintenance and safety improvements.
A commissioner who attended a transportation summit with the Oregon Department of Transportation said ODOT’s approach can leave the city unable to both preserve historic character and make needed safety upgrades. The commissioner suggested the city could consider purchasing stretches of the roadway from the state, though members warned that transfer typically requires the route to be fully improved before jurisdiction changes hands.
The group also discussed a hazardous blind corner near Stark Street, where members said there have been multiple past fatalities and remaining roadside memorial crosses. Commissioners cited parking and pedestrian-visibility issues and noted that hedges on private property contribute to the visibility problem. They described the jurisdictional mix—county zoning combined with city permitting and parts falling within the National Scenic Area—as complicating any fix.
No formal action was taken. Commissioners instructed staff to continue informal outreach to transportation partners and to flag safety concerns in future planning conversations.
