For the elimination of the dangerous grade crossing of the Pacific
Highway with the Southern Pacific Railway at Divide, the Highway
Department made surveys and prepared plans for an overhead crossing at
that point. The Public Service Commission of Oregon ordered that this
overhead crossing be built, forty per cent of the cost to be paid by the
Railway Company, thirty per cent by the State and thirty per cent by the
County.
Bids were received for the construction of the structure and approach
fills on September 10, 1918, but before work was begun, the United
States Highways Council ordered that construction be delayed until after
the war on account of the shortage in steel and cement. Work will,
therefore, not be undertaken until the 1919 season.
The structure designed for this overcrossing is a three span reinforced
concrete viaduct, providing clearance for the double tracking of the
railway. The cost of the structure and the approach fills is estimated
to be $19,500.00. In connection with this, about 1.3 miles of new grade
must be built to connect with the present road, no part of the cost of
which will be shared by the Railway Company. This grading is estimated
to cost $9,000.00. As soon as the grading is completed, it will be
macadamized by the Highway Commission.