The 77-day closure of NW Cornelius Pass Road that began Tuesday, July 15, is forcing Columbia River Fire & Rescue to rethink how it gets patients to the nearest emergency room.
The fire agency said detour routes around the bridge replacement will add at least 20 minutes to ambulance transport times to Kaiser Westside Medical Center's emergency department.
Crews may recommend diverting patients to other hospitals, the agency said, to maintain emergency response capabilities across its district.
The closure stretches between NW Germantown Road and NW Kaiser Road and runs through Monday, September 29. The Oregon Department of Transportation is replacing the bridge over Rock Creek, which was built in 1946 and, according to Washington County, was not designed to handle freight traffic.
Construction began in April 2026 with daytime lane closures, and the full road closure marks the most disruptive phase. The $6.5 million project, a partnership between ODOT and Washington County, will install a new single-span bridge with two vehicle lanes and wide shoulders.
Detour complications
Washington County's recommended detour sends cars and light trucks along NW Germantown Road and NW Kaiser Road. Cyclists should use NW Old Cornelius Pass Road. Trucks are routed onto U.S. 26, I-405, and U.S. 30, while trucks carrying hazardous cargo must take U.S. 26, OR 217, I-5, and U.S. 30.
There's a catch for the first month: Kaiser Road is separately closed between Brugger and Springville roads through Saturday, August 16. That means drivers following the county's primary detour will hit a second closure until mid-August.
What's changing
Cornelius Pass Road's jurisdiction has transferred to ODOT and is now designated OR 127. Once the new bridge is finished, ODOT will take over all future maintenance. The project falls within Washington County Commissioner Districts 2 and 4.
ODOT expects the entire project to wrap up in October 2026.
Residents can sign up for email updates on Washington County's project page at washingtoncountyor.gov/lut/projects/cornelius-pass-road-bridge-rock-creek.
