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Background/Purpose
What has come to be called the "Lincoln Beach Parkway" is, in reality, a section of the Oregon Coast Highway (U.S. Route 101). Construction of the highway began in 1919 to ensure military preparedness. At that time, it was called the Theodore Roosevelt Coast Military Highway. The current name was adopted in 1931.
Running adjacent to the Pacific Coast for nearly 565 km (50 miles), this route is one of the most scenic highways in the United States. Its elevation varies from near sea level to cliffs 305 m (1,000 ft) above the ocean. The road passes through a variety of urban, suburban, and rural landscapes.
Major Traffic Growth Expected
U.S. 101 serves local, regional, and tourist travel demands. Existing ADT volumes within the central coastal region through Lincoln County range from a low of approximately 5,000 vehicles per day at the southern county line to approximately 17,500 vehicles per day in the Lincoln City area. Year 2015 traffic projections forecast these volumes to increase to approximately 11,700 vehicles per day and 32,000 vehicles per day, respectively.
Improved Access vs. Community Impacts
A major conflict facing the entire Route 101 corridor is the need to provide better access to resort-oriented communities to enhance economic development opportunities while balancing the impact of capacity improvements. This issue was particularly acute in Lincoln Beach, a city of 10,000, where new residential and resort developments, and access to them, contributed to increased congestion levels and a high accident rate.
Initial Options
This project was initiated by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) at the request of the Lincoln County Commissioners in early 1989. Initially, only three actions were considered: (1) the do nothing/no build option of retaining the existing two-lane undivided roadway with no access control, (2) a three-lane cross section with a continuous two-way median left turn lane, and (3) a five-lane cross section with a continuous two-way median left turn lane. When these three options were presented to the local community at public meetings in connection with the environmental assessment process, each option received an equal amount of support and opposition. The result was that no consensus was reached on the appropriate action.
In 1992, jurisdictions along the highway approved the concept of a Pacific Coast Scenic Parkway to "increase the aesthetic experience, assist in access control, and develop community identity." These parkways were to deviate from typical ODOT design concepts by providing a raised center median and limited median breaks, while keeping direct access along both sides of the road.
Land Use Control: A Paramount Factor
An important point raised by the Lincoln County Council was the relationship of the project's design features to the County's Master Plan, which was designed to control strip development. The Lincoln Beach area is a lightly developed 3.2km (2mile) section of homes and small businesses that is in the path of urban growth.
Parkway Concept Adopted
Following the initial ODOT presentations of the parkway design concept, in 1988, the Lincoln County Commissioners sponsored a second public information meeting. The meeting was well attended by corridor residents and local business owners. As a result, the County Commissioners formally requested that the parkway design concept be implemented.
Design was initiated shortly thereafter by ODOT staff, with final plans completed in May 1990. Construction began in August 1990. Construction was complete and the 3.2km (2mile) section was opened to traffic in July 1992.
As finally constructed, the Lincoln Beach Parkway has a basic four-lane median-divided cross section, with a curbandgutter closed drainage system and 1.2m (4ft) sidewalks along both sides.
Further Reading:
US Route 101-Lincoln Beach Parkway
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