Camp Polk Road realignment proposed

Deschutes County is thinking about building a meander into Camp Polk Road to put more distance between vehicles and the end of the airport runway at Sisters Eagle Air.

In a May 7 letter to the City of Sisters, Deschutes County senior transportation planner Steve Jorgensen wrote "I am concerned over the long-term future of Camp Polk Road and its proximity to the airport runwayAs traffic increases over the next 20 years on Camp Polk Road, technically, the county can't make any capacity improvements to it because of its location across the runway 'Primary Surface"

Jorgensen included a map which identified some possible road connections and alternatives for the proposed arterial corridor .

"I think everybody recognizes the safety issue: airplanes taking off or landing over the road. It is not uncommon that a large vehicle or a school bus might be traveling on that roadI thought maybe we should be looking at a long-term solution to this," said Jorgensen on May 11.

The county proposal would cut Camp Polk at the runway. Drivers heading north from Sisters would use the existing Camp Polk to access Barclay Drive.

Drivers heading into Sisters from the Indian Ford area would be rerouted toward the southwest, where they would connect to Barclay Way, scheduled to link the Sisters Industrial Park and Camp Polk Road this summer.

Neil Thompson, City of Sisters planning director, said that rather than change the alignment of Camp Polk Road, the city will probably suggest the runway be shortened.

"If we shift the end of the runway 200 feet northeast, then the primary surface ends at the fence," said Thompson. That will eliminate the need for a loop in Camp Polk Road, he said.

On the other hand, airport owner Clifton Clemens said he believed the realignment "has some real merit."

Clemens had not heard of the proposal, but said "It makes some sense as a way to get speed down (on Camp Polk Road) and get school buses across Highway 20 without going down the main street of Sisters. That's my first reaction."

Ted Eady, developing a motel on property to the south of the realignment, told The Nugget he had made an issue of the proximity to the runway when the county was talking of widening Camp Polk Road.

Eady said he is in favor of the airport, but felt that widening Camp Polk as the airport now sits would not be safe, "with no effective clear zone at the end of the runway."

Eady also felt the realignment would provide better access for traffic from Indian Ford to Highway 20. "I don't see the Locust (Camp Polk) interchange with Highway 20 being very good," Eady said.

Plans to extend Larch Street nearly to the end of the urban growth boundary this summer would provide a better access point, Eady said.

The county transportation systems plan is currently under public review. The hearings period will last until May 27.

Jorgensen said that part of his analysis of Camp Polk Road was the belief that "a lot of the development that would occur in the Sisters area would be in Indian Ford.

"We can't do much to improve that road except maintain it. We cannot upgrade it. We can't do anything that would increase capacity," because of the proximity to the end of the runway.

Jorgensen said it is much easier to tackle such problems at an early stage than when land is developed. That is why he wanted to initiate a dialogue at this time.

On May 27, the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners will likely close the public hearing period on the draft transportation systems plan. Comments received at that point will be entered into the record.

"If there is anything like this that needs to be included, it needs to get in. If there are readers out there who want to comment (on the plan) they should get to me or the county commissioners," said Jorgensen.

Jorgensen said that identifying the realignment does not mean the road will be rebuilt any time soon.

"As the property would redevelop, we would ask for right of way for the new realignment, and (set) county share versus developer shareWhen those properties get developed we would see the realignment," said Jorgensen.

Jorgensen can be reached at 383-6718, faxed at 385-1764 or email: [email protected]