From Westport to Svensen in Clatsop County, 13.55 miles of 16-foot
waterbound macadam, 3.6 miles of 9-foot waterbound macadam and 1.76
miles of gravel was laid. This work was handled by the Warren
Construction Company prior to December 26, 1917, at which time the State
Highway Department took the work over and proceeded with State forces.
On this section the unit costs show a slight advantage in favor of doing
the work with State forces. Conditions were practically the same as on
the Clatskanie-Westport Section in Columbia County--the State paying
higher wages than the contractor, but the contractor having the
disadvantage of more unfavorable weather conditions. The main advantage
in the State doing this work was gained by having better control of the
organization and more direct supervision of the work.
The original intention was to complete all macadam 16-feet wide but the
increased cost of labor, supplies, etc., made it necessary to reduce the
width of the macadam to nine feet so as to complete the full distance
with the money available.