A dangerous intersection at a U.S. 26 offramp in Beaverton will finally get a long-awaited traffic signal next year.

For years and years eastbound drivers exiting 26 at Cedar Hills Boulevard have faced a no-win situation, especially if they are trying to turn left and head north on the city street: Drivers face no traffic signal at the intersection and must cross five lanes of traffic to try and head north.

The situation led to dangerous driving behavior for years. In 2015, the intersection saw an average of 22,000 cars pass through daily.

Locally, it's known as the Left Turn of Death, Intersection from Hell, and other descriptors which cannot be printed here.

In 2015, a video by The Oregonian/OregonLive chronicled drivers heading into oncoming traffic to get around cars sitting in the median and trying to turn left and head east on the highway.

But now that situation is close to finally changing.

Washington County is managing the $1.2 million project, half of which is paid for by the county's transportation tax levied on new development.

"This intersection has been challenging for travelers," Andrew Singelakis, director of Washington County's Department of Land Use & Transportation, said. He said the county will continue to work collaboratively to design a signalized intersection that will improve traffic flow and traveler safety."

The county plans to accept bids on the development in mid-September and start construction by the end of 2018. The new signals should be in place by next spring, along with sidewalks on the eastern side of Cedar Hills Boulevard.

In 2006, the project was slated to be included in transportation improvement associated with a proposed Wal-Mart store, but the store never happened, and the project didn't either.

The county will hold an open house on the project from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 6, at Cedar Park Middle School, 11100 S.W. Park Way, Beaverton.



-- Andrew Theen

atheen@oregonian.com

503-294-4026

@andrewtheen