To eliminate four very heavy grades on the Pacific Highway between Wolf
Creek and Grave Creek in Northern Josephine County, the Highway
Commission appropriated funds for the grading of a 4.9 mile section
between those points. The contract for the work was awarded to the
American Exploration and Construction Company of Grants Pass on November
6, 1917. This construction was practically all on steep side-hills, and
as only a small part of the material to be moved was hard rock, the job
was an ideal one for steam shovel operation and over fifty per cent of
the total yardage was moved by this method. The work was handled by the
contractors in a very creditable manner, and an excellent roadbed was
secured.
The grading was completed on October 20, 1918. The width of roadbed is
20 feet and the maximum grade is 5 per cent. Mr. J. E. Nelson was in
charge of the work as resident engineer.
It is expected that this section will be macadamized during the 1919
season.