Helvetia Road expected to remain closed for days

A dump truck caused considerable damage to a trestle bridge north of Hillsboro on Monday morning

This story has been updated.

Helvetia Road is expected to remain closed for as much as a week, after a truck crashed into a railroad trestle north of Highway 26 on Monday.

Helvetia Road is closed between Dierdorff Road and Grossen Drive. The road is expected to remain closed for a least a week while Portland & Western Railroad, which owns the line, completes repairs on the trestle. The road may need additional repairs, according to county spokeswoman Melissa De Leyser.

The crash occurred on Monday, July 17, just south of Helvetia Tavern, 10275 N.W. Helvetia Road after an over-height dump truck collided with the trestle, causing significant damage to the railway and the truck.

The road closure comes just days before the area was set to play host to the 100th annual Swiss Festival this Saturday at Grossen Peaches, 23678 N.W. Grossen Drive.

Helvetia Road is closed to all travelers until the trestle is fixed. Only local traffic is allowed between Dierdorff Road and Grossen Drive/Badertscher Road.

"Swiss Festival attendees and patrons of Helvetia Tavern and other businesses north of the trestle should access Helvetia Road from Jackson Quarry Road," De Leyser said.

According to the Washington County Sheriff's Office, the 2000 Mack dump truck failed to lower its dump bed when it struck the railroad trestle.

Until the road re-opens, drivers are asked to use Northwest West Union Road and Northwest Jackson Quarry Road to access Helvetia Road north of the crash site.

The truck involved in the crash is owned by V&K Construction, which specializes in excavation and is located several hundred feet to the north of the crash site, 10308 N.W. Helvetia Road. A source at V&K Construction said the driver was "fine," but declined to give further comment.

Sheriff's officials said that the driver — whose name has not been released — did suffer minor injuries and was treated at the scene by Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue crews. The driver was cited for not wearing a seat belt, careless driving and violating posted use limits.

The railroad line is regularly used, running from Astoria along the Columbia River to Washington County, and west to Helvetia, North Plains and Banks.

Editor's Note: This story has been updated with new information from the Washington County Sheriff's Office and the Washington County Land Use & Transportation Department.