Oregon Route 37 - Revision history

Jonathan: Lowercased "state line"

2024-01-30T09:35:41Z

Lowercased "state line"

Jonathan: Updated southern terminus in route overview

2022-10-07T02:49:01Z

Updated southern terminus in route overview

Jonathan: Removed city of Pendleton from maintenance list

2022-10-07T02:38:58Z

Removed city of Pendleton from maintenance list

Jonathan: Replaced AASHO map with better one

2022-10-06T06:44:32Z

Replaced AASHO map with better one

Jonathan: Initial page creation

2022-09-30T08:23:39Z

Initial page creation

New page

{{Routebox|type=OR|number=37|name=Oregon Route 37|highway=Pendleton-Cold Springs Highway #36 Pendleton Highway #67 SW Court Ave. (1972-around 2008) SW 17th St. (1972-around 2008) Pendleton-John Day Highway #28 (1972-around 2008)|map=OR_37-map.png|maintained_by=Oregon Department of Transportation and the City of Pendleton|length=29.91|length_ref=(around 2008-present)|addl_lengths=31.00 mi. (1972-around 2008)|created=October 13, 1972|start_terminus_dir=North|start_terminus={{Jct|type=US|number=730|page=US Route 730|route=US-730}} at Cold Springs Junction|junctions={{Jct|type=OR|number=334|page=Oregon Route 334|route=OR-334}} near Meiners Ranch|end_terminus_dir=South|end_terminus={{Jct|type=US|number=30|page=US Route 30|route=US-30}} in Pendleton|prev_route={{Jct|type=OR|number=36|page=Oregon Route 36|route=OR-36}}|next_route={{Jct|type=OR|number=38|page=Oregon Route 38|route=OR-38|align=right}}}}
'''Oregon Route 37''' is a state route that runs between [[US Route 730|US-730]] at Cold Springs Junction and [[Interstate 84|I-84]] and [[US Route 395|US-395]] in Pendleton. It encompasses the entirety of the [[Pendleton-Cold Springs Highway #36]]. Prior to about 2008, it also ran along a short section of the [[Pendleton Highway #67]] and [[Pendleton-John Day Highway #28]] in Pendleton, as well as two different city streets to connect those two highways. It was created in 1972 after a realignment of [[US Route 395|US-395]].

==History==

===Highway History Prior to Designation===

By 1908, an improved road existed to the east of Cold Springs along the eventual OR-37 corridor, likely extending further southeasterly through Holdman to Pendleton<ref name="usgs_topo_1908-11_umatilla">United States Geological Survey. "Umatilla Quadrangle," November 1908</ref>. While this corridor did ''not'' appear on the 1916 tentative state highway plan put forth by State Engineer John H. Lewis<ref name="oshd_map_1916">Oregon State Highway Commission. "Tentative Plan, State Highway System," from ''Third Annual Report to the State Highway Commission'', 1916</ref>, it ''does'' appear on the proposed state highway system map adopted by the OSHC on November 27, 1917 as the [[Pendleton-Cold Springs Highway #36]]<ref name="oshd_map_1917">Oregon State Highway Commission. "State of Oregon Proposed State Highway System," 27 November 1917</ref>; this highway name and number persists to this day.

Originally, the highway's northern terminus was the community of Cold Springs without a connection to the state highway system. This changed by 1922, when the [[Umatilla Cutoff Highway #37]] was created from Umatilla to the Washington State Line near Point Kelley, crossing Cold Springs in the process<ref name="oshd_map_1922">Oregon State Highway Commission. "State of Oregon System of State Highways," 1922</ref>. That same year, on April 19, State Highway Engineer Herbert Nunn approved a survey of the [[Pendleton-Cold Springs Highway #36]] about 5 miles south of Holdman<ref name="oshc_1922-04-19_1245">Oregon State Highway Commission minutes, 19 April 1922, p. 1245</ref>. More research is needed on the results and subsequent OSHD actions of this survey.

By November 30, 1922, the road's surface was a rock or gravel surfaced road between Cold Springs and a little ways east of Holdman, but was an unimproved road the rest of the way to Pendleton<ref name="oshd_map_1922"></ref>. The entire road was rock or gravel surfaced by November 30, 1926<ref name="oshd_map_1926">Oregon State Highway Commission. "State of Oregon System of State Highways," 1926</ref>, and wouldn't be fully paved or bituminous until 1937<ref name="oshd_map_1937">Oregon State Highway Commission. "Map of the State of Oregon Showing the Main Traveled Automobile Roads" (official state highway map), 1937</ref>.

===Route History Prior to Oregon Route 37 Designation===
{{See|article=[[Oregon Route 15]], [[US Route 395]]}}

On June 22, 1932, the [[Pendleton-Cold Springs Highway #36]] was designated as '''[[Oregon Route 15|OR-15]]'''<ref name="oshc_1932-06-22_3510">Oregon State Highway Commission minutes, 22 June 1932, p. 3510</ref>:

{{OSHCMinutes|quote=Route #15 - beginning at a junction with U. S. 730 at Cold Springs and following the Pendleton-Cold Springs Highway to a junction with U. S. 30 at Pendleton.
|date=1932-06-22
|page=3510}}

This designation was relatively short-lived. In August 1934, AASHO extended [[US Route 395|US-395]] from its original southern terminus in Spokane, WA to San Diego, CA through Oregon<ref name="letter_1956-02-06_johnson-to-cooper">A. E. Johnson (AASHO) letter to Forrest E. Cooper, 6 February 1956</ref>. As a result of the southerly extension, [[Oregon Route 15|OR-15]] was eliminated in its entirety from the state highway system in favor of the [[US Route 395|US-395]] designation<ref name="letter_1934-11-26_baldock-to-engineers">R. H. Baldock (OSHD) letter to all division and resident maintenance engineers, 26 November 1934</ref>.

[[File:1972-10-13_OSHD_AASHO-US395-app_p6_part.jpg|400px|thumb|right|This map from the 1972 OSHD application to AASHO requesting a reroute of [[US Route 395|US-395]] shows the routing of OR-37 in green. [[Media:1972-10-13_OSHD_AASHO-US395-app_p6.jpg|(View full map)]]]]
===Designation as Oregon Route 37===
In October 1972, the Oregon State Highway Division wished to realign [[US Route 395|US-395]] between Cold Springs Junction and Pendleton. This realignment would take [[US Route 395|US-395]] off of the [[Pendleton-Cold Springs Highway #36]] and instead run it further west along [[US Route 730|US-730]] to Umatilla, then south along what was then [[Oregon Route 32|OR-32]] through Hermiston to the junction of what was then [[Interstate 80N|I-80N]] in Stanfield, where it ran until Pendleton where it would then rejoin its existing alignment. The rationale for this was to provide "a much safer and more desirable route of travel" for people following [[US Route 395|US-395]]<ref name="letter_1972-10-13_Baldwin-to-Johnson">George M. Baldwin (OSHD) letter to A. E. Johnson (AASHO), 13 October 1972</ref>.

The State Highway Commission discussed the matter telephonically on October 13 and agreed to the realignment, which was then formally approved on October 31<ref name="aasho-app_1972-10-13_or_us395_p2">Oregon State Highway Commission. "Application for Relocation of US-395," 13 October 1972, p. 2</ref>. The minutes note that the former [[US Route 395|US-395]] alignment was to be identified as '''OR-37'''<ref name="oshc_1972-10-31_36583">Oregon State Highway Commission minutes, 31 October 1972, p. 36583</ref>:

{{OSHCMinutes|quote=Confirmation was also requested by the Engineer for approval given by the Chairman on October 13, 1972, revisiting the routing of US395 between Pendleton and Cold Springs Junction in Umatilla County. The Commission approved the rerouting of US395 ass follows and that application be made to the AASHO Route Numbering Committee for its approval:

<blockquote>Beginning at the present junction of US395 with I-80N at Pendleton, proceeding thence westerly concurrent with I-80N to the junction of State Highway 32 at Stanfield; thence along State Highway 32 northerly to its junction with US730 easterly of the town of Umatilla; thence concurrent with US730 to Cold Springs Junction. The former section of US395 between its junction with I-80N at Pendleton and its junction with US730 at Cold Springs Junction shall carry the designation State Route 37.</blockquote>
|date=1972-10-31
|page=36583}}

Because the rerouting involved a US highway, AASHO needed to approve it. The same day the OSHD informally approved the realignment over the phone, OSHD Administator of Highways George M. Baldwin sent 6 copies of the state's rerouting application to AASHO's Executive Director, A.E. Johnson<ref name="letter_1972-10-13_Baldwin-to-Johnson"></ref>. Johnson replied on October 18, stating that they had received the applications and would discuss the proposal at the U.S. Route Numbering Subcommittee meeting on November 24 in Phoenix<ref name="letter_1972-10-18_Johnson-to-Baldwin">A. E. Johnson (AASHO) letter to George M. Baldwin (OSHD), 18 October 1972</ref>. It was considered and approved on November 25<ref name="aasho-app_1972-10-13_or_us395_p1">Oregon State Highway Commission. "Application for Relocation of US-395," 13 October 1972, p. 1</ref>, and the OSHD was notified of the approval by letter sent by Henrik Stafseth and H.J. Rhodes on December 5<ref name="letter_1972-12-05_Stefsent-Rhodes-to-Baldwin">Henik E. Stafseth and H. J. Rhodes (AASHO) letter to George M. Baldwin (OSHD), 5 December 1972</ref>. F.B. Klaboe, the Deputy State Highway Engineer, replied to Rhodes on December 19, stating that Oregon would "immediately make the necessary changes in the signing"<ref name="letter_1972-12-19_Klaboe-to-Rhodes">F. B. Klaboe (OSHD) letter to H. J. Rhodes (AASHO), 19 December 1972</ref>.

===Changes Since Designation===
The 2005<ref name="odot_desc_2005-05-25_9">Oregon Department of Transportation. "Descriptions of US and OR Routes," 25 May 2005, p. 9</ref>, 2007<ref name="odot_desc_2007-03-07_9">Oregon Department of Transportation. "Descriptions of US and OR Routes," 7 March 2007, p. 9</ref><ref name="odot_desc_2007-07-13_9">Oregon Department of Transportation. "Descriptions of US and OR Routes," 13 July 2007, p. 9</ref> and 2008<ref name="odot_desc_2008-07-11_9">Oregon Department of Transportation. "Descriptions of US and OR Routes," 11 July 2008, p. 9</ref> ''US and ORE Route Descriptions'' note that the routing was revised on October 18, 1977. It is unknown at this time how the routing was revised; the October 1977 OTC meeting minutes may shed some light as to where and why a route adjustment occurred.

Around 1985, the Cold Springs Canyon Bridge was replaced<ref name="hsho_2020_p36-3">Oregon Department of Transportation, Engineering Automation Services. "History of State Highways in Oregon," March 2020, p. 36.3</ref><ref name="nbi_2014_00694A">United States Federal Highway Administration. "National Bridge Inventory, Oregon Bridge #00694A036 00673," 2014, last accessed 27 September 2022</ref>. This resulted in OR-37 being shortened by 0.03 miles<ref name="odot_slchart_36_1989-09_p1">Oregon Department of Transportation. "Straightline Chart, Pendleton-Cold Springs Highway #36," September 1989, p. 1</ref>.

Between 1990 and 1994, a few dangerous curves along OR-37 were straightened. The most dramatic of these adjustments occurred just east of the Union Pacific overcrossing, where large curves were finally removed. The bridge over the South Fork Cold Springs Creek was also replaced in 1992, replacing a bridge first built in 1933<ref name="nbi_2014_17217">United States Federal Highway Administration. "National Bridge Inventory, Oregon Bridge #17217 036 00883," 2014, last accessed 27 September 2022</ref><ref name="nbi_1992_00695">United States Federal Highway Administration. "National Bridge Inventory, Oregon Bridge #00695 036 00883," 1992, last accessed 27 September 2022</ref>. On December 14, 1994, the OTC approved the relinquishment of these former segments as A&R #661, which transferred ownership to abutting property owners<ref name="otc_1994-12-14_2">Oregon Transportation Commission minutes, 14 December 1994, p. 2</ref>. These adjustments resulted in OR-37 being further shortened by 0.29 miles<ref name="odot_slchart_36_2001-05_p1">Oregon Department of Transportation. "Straightline Chart, Pendleton-Cold Springs Highway #36," May 2001, p. 1</ref>.

[[File:OR 37-pendleton-map.png|400px|thumb|right|These maps show the confusing directions drivers need to take to continue on OR-37 as defined in 2008 through Pendleton after an intersection redesign.]]
Finally, it appears that the southern terminus has been moved from the junction of [[Interstate 84|I-84]] and [[US Route 395|US-395]] south of downtown Pendleton to the junction with [[US Route 30|US-30]] to the west of downtown Pendleton sometime between 2007 and 2009. This is indicated by an "END OR-37" shield assembly placed just north of the intersection of the two highways sometime between 2007<ref name="odot_dvl_2007-09-19_hwy36-1_mp30.725">Oregon Department of Transportation. [https://dvlprod-ordot.msappproxy.net/cf/dvl/images//VideoImages/2007/036___Pendleton-Cold%20Springs/Add/Device2/030385.jpg "Digital Video Log - Hwy #036 (1) MP 30.725,"] 19 September 2007, last accessed 29 September 2022</ref> and 2009<ref name="odot_dvl_2009-06-25_hwy36-1_mp30.745">Oregon Department of Transportation. [https://dvlprod-ordot.msappproxy.net/cf/dvl/images2//VideoImages/2009/036___Pendleton-Cold%20Springs/Add/Device1/030405.jpg "Digital Video Log - Hwy #036 (1) MP 30.745,"] 25 June 2009, last accessed 29 September 2022</ref>, according to ODOT's Digital Video Log. This was likely done for a couple reasons:

* The right turn lane from eastbound [[US Route 30|US-30]] onto SW Court Ave. was removed sometime between 2007 and 2012, thus no longer allowing vehicles travelling south on OR-37 to follow the route.
* Due to the angle of intersection between the [[US Route 30|US-30]] and SW Court Ave., northbound OR-37 traffic may not have been able to follow the route as defined, at least since 1994.
* Part of OR-37 travelled along streets maintained by the City of Pendleton.

The map to the right shows the movements drivers must make if they wish to continue along OR-37 as defined. The arrows on the map are used to demonstrate the necessary direction of travel in each direction, and to show that southbound travellers cannot continue along OR-37 without crossing over the same intersection twice.

Strangely, the most recent [[Pendleton-John Day Highway #28]] straightline chart (from 2016<ref name="odot_slchart_28_2016-05_p1">Oregon Department of Transportation. "Straightline Chart, Pendleton-John Day Highway #28," May 2016, p. 1</ref>) and city map of Pendleton (from 2021<ref name="oshd_citymap_2021">Oregon Department of Transporation. "Oregon Transportation Map, City of Pendleton," 2021</ref>) still show OR-37 continuing to [[Interstate 84|I-84]] and [[US Route 395|US-395]], though none of the roads south of the [[US Route 30|US-30]] intersection are signed as such.

==Route Definition Evolution==

===1980===

The earliest known mention in an edition of ''Descriptions of US & ORE Routes'' is in 1980<ref name="oshd_desc_1980_8">Oregon State Highway Department. "Descriptions of US and ORE Routes," c. 1980, p. 8</ref>:

{{RouteDesc|quote=ORE37 - Over the Pendleton-Cold Springs Highway from its junction with the Columbia River Highway, US395 and US730, southeasterly to its junction with the Pendleton Highway, US30, in Pendleton; thence easterly over the Pendleton Highway ''(common with US30)'' in Pendleton to its intersection with S.W. Court Avenue; thence southerly via S.W. Court Avenue and S.W. 17th Street to the intersection of the Pendleton-John Day Highway; thence southwesterly over the Pendleton-John Day Highway to its junction with the Old Oregon Trail Highway, I-80N and US395 in Pendleton.
|title=Descriptions of US & ORE Routes
|date=1980
|page=8}}

===1988===

The wording<ref name="oshd_desc_1988-01_9">Oregon State Highway Department. "Descriptions of US & ORE Routes," January 1988, p. 9</ref> is largely the same as in 1980, but routes at its terminus were changed to reflect [[Interstate 80N|I-80N]]'s renumbering to [[Interstate 84|I-84]] on May 1, 1980 and [[US Route 395]]'s rerouting onto [[Interstate 82|I-82]] and the Umatilla Bridge on December 8, 1984<ref name="aashto-app_1984-10-15_or_us395">Oregon State Highway Commission. "Application for Relocation of US-395," 15 October 1984</ref>:

{{RouteDesc|quote=ORE37 - Over the Pendleton-Cold Springs Highway from its junction with the Columbia River Highway, US730, southeasterly to its junction with the Pendleton Highway, US30, in Pendleton; thence easterly over the Pendleton Highway (common with US30) in Pendleton to its intersection with S.W. Court Avenue; thence southerly via S.W. Court Avenue and S.W. 17th Street to the intersection of the Pendleton-John Day Highway; thence southwesterly over the Pendleton-John Day Highway to its junction with the Old Oregon Trail Highway, I-84 and US395 in Pendleton.
|title=Descriptions of US & ORE Routes
|date=1988
|page=9}}

'''Note:''' The 1990<ref name="oshd_desc_1990-01_9">Oregon State Highway Department. "Descriptions of US & ORE Routes," January 1990, p. 9</ref>, 1993<ref name="oshd_desc_1993-07_9">Oregon State Highway Department. "Descriptions of US & ORE Routes," July 1993, p. 9</ref>, 2005<ref name="odot_desc_2005-05-25_9"></ref>, 2007<ref name="odot_desc_2007-03-07_9"></ref><ref name="odot_desc_2007-07-13_9"></ref> and 2008<ref name="odot_desc_2008-07-11_9"></ref> editions also use the same description. The latter 4 editions add that the routing was revised on October 18, 1977 for an as-yet unknown reason.

==Miscellany==
===Possible Extension into Washington===

While OR-37's northern terminus is at [[US Route 730|US-730]] at Cold Springs Junction, the underlying [[Pendleton-Cold Springs Highway #36]] continues for another 0.88 miles after the route splits to direct traffic eastbound and westbound. The roadway travels underneath [[US Route 730|US-730]] and ends at Warehouse Beach Recreation Area right at the Columbia River. While no straightline charts or other evidence confirm this, it is entirely possible that a Columbia River crossing into Washington was considered at this location at some point. The feasibility of any such prospect, however, would be highly unlikely, as there is no state highway or major road immediately across the river from Warehouse Beach. WSDOT or Benton County would need to commit to building a major road to serve a small level of traffic, as most vehicles would likely cross at the [[Interstate 82|I-82]] Umatilla Bridge.

==References==

<references />

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Routebox|type=OR|number=37|name=Oregon Route 37|highway=Pendleton-Cold Springs Highway #36<br />Pendleton Highway #67<br />SW Court Ave. (1972-around 2008)<br />SW 17th St. (1972-around 2008)<br />Pendleton-John Day Highway #28 (1972-around 2008)|map=OR_37-map.png|maintained_by=Oregon Department of Transportation|length=29.91|length_ref=(around 2008-present)|addl_lengths=31.00 mi. (1972-around 2008)|created=October 13, 1972|start_terminus_dir=North|start_terminus={{Jct|type=US|number=730|page=US Route 730|route=US-730}} at Cold Springs Junction|junctions={{Jct|type=OR|number=334|page=Oregon Route 334|route=OR-334}} near Meiners Ranch|end_terminus_dir=South|end_terminus={{Jct|type=US|number=30|page=US Route 30|route=US-30}} in Pendleton|prev_route={{Jct|type=OR|number=36|page=Oregon Route 36|route=OR-36}}|next_route={{Jct|type=OR|number=38|page=Oregon Route 38|route=OR-38|align=right}}}}
-'''Oregon Route 37''' is a state route that runs between [[US Route 730|US-730]] at Cold Springs Junction and [[Interstate 84|I-84]] and [[US Route 395|US-395]] in Pendleton. It encompasses the entirety of the [[Pendleton-Cold Springs Highway #36]]. Prior to about 2008, it also ran along a short section of the [[Pendleton Highway #67]] and [[Pendleton-John Day Highway #28]] in Pendleton, as well as two different city streets to connect those two highways. It was created in 1972 after a realignment of [[US Route 395|US-395]].
+'''Oregon Route 37''' is a state route that runs between [[US Route 730|US-730]] at Cold Springs Junction and [[US Route 30|US-30]] in Pendleton. It encompasses the entirety of the [[Pendleton-Cold Springs Highway #36]]. Prior to about 2008, it also ran along a short section of the [[Pendleton Highway #67]] and [[Pendleton-John Day Highway #28]] in Pendleton to the junction of [[Interstate 84|I-84]] and [[US Route 395|US-395]], as well as two different city streets to connect those two highways. It was created in 1972 after a realignment of [[US Route 395|US-395]].
 ==History==

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:38, 7 October 2022
Line 1:		Line 1:
−	{{Routebox\|type=OR\|number=37\|name=Oregon Route 37\|highway=Pendleton-Cold Springs Highway #36<br />Pendleton Highway #67<br />SW Court Ave. (1972-around 2008)<br />SW 17th St. (1972-around 2008)<br />Pendleton-John Day Highway #28 (1972-around 2008)\|map=OR_37-map.png\|maintained_by=Oregon Department of Transportation ~~and the City of Pendleton~~\|length=29.91\|length_ref=(around 2008-present)\|addl_lengths=31.00 mi. (1972-around 2008)\|created=October 13, 1972\|start_terminus_dir=North\|start_terminus={{Jct\|type=US\|number=730\|page=US Route 730\|route=US-730}} at Cold Springs Junction\|junctions={{Jct\|type=OR\|number=334\|page=Oregon Route 334\|route=OR-334}} near Meiners Ranch\|end_terminus_dir=South\|end_terminus={{Jct\|type=US\|number=30\|page=US Route 30\|route=US-30}} in Pendleton\|prev_route={{Jct\|type=OR\|number=36\|page=Oregon Route 36\|route=OR-36}}\|next_route={{Jct\|type=OR\|number=38\|page=Oregon Route 38\|route=OR-38\|align=right}}}}	+	{{Routebox\|type=OR\|number=37\|name=Oregon Route 37\|highway=Pendleton-Cold Springs Highway #36<br />Pendleton Highway #67<br />SW Court Ave. (1972-around 2008)<br />SW 17th St. (1972-around 2008)<br />Pendleton-John Day Highway #28 (1972-around 2008)\|map=OR_37-map.png\|maintained_by=Oregon Department of Transportation\|length=29.91\|length_ref=(around 2008-present)\|addl_lengths=31.00 mi. (1972-around 2008)\|created=October 13, 1972\|start_terminus_dir=North\|start_terminus={{Jct\|type=US\|number=730\|page=US Route 730\|route=US-730}} at Cold Springs Junction\|junctions={{Jct\|type=OR\|number=334\|page=Oregon Route 334\|route=OR-334}} near Meiners Ranch\|end_terminus_dir=South\|end_terminus={{Jct\|type=US\|number=30\|page=US Route 30\|route=US-30}} in Pendleton\|prev_route={{Jct\|type=OR\|number=36\|page=Oregon Route 36\|route=OR-36}}\|next_route={{Jct\|type=OR\|number=38\|page=Oregon Route 38\|route=OR-38\|align=right}}}}
	'''Oregon Route 37''' is a state route that runs between [[US Route 730\|US-730]] at Cold Springs Junction and [[Interstate 84\|I-84]] and [[US Route 395\|US-395]] in Pendleton. It encompasses the entirety of the [[Pendleton-Cold Springs Highway #36]]. Prior to about 2008, it also ran along a short section of the [[Pendleton Highway #67]] and [[Pendleton-John Day Highway #28]] in Pendleton, as well as two different city streets to connect those two highways. It was created in 1972 after a realignment of [[US Route 395\|US-395]].		'''Oregon Route 37''' is a state route that runs between [[US Route 730\|US-730]] at Cold Springs Junction and [[Interstate 84\|I-84]] and [[US Route 395\|US-395]] in Pendleton. It encompasses the entirety of the [[Pendleton-Cold Springs Highway #36]]. Prior to about 2008, it also ran along a short section of the [[Pendleton Highway #67]] and [[Pendleton-John Day Highway #28]] in Pendleton, as well as two different city streets to connect those two highways. It was created in 1972 after a realignment of [[US Route 395\|US-395]].

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 By 1908, an improved road existed to the east of Cold Springs along the eventual OR-37 corridor, likely extending further southeasterly through Holdman to Pendleton<ref name="usgs_topo_1908-11_umatilla">United States Geological Survey. "Umatilla Quadrangle," November 1908</ref>. While this corridor did ''not'' appear on the 1916 tentative state highway plan put forth by State Engineer John H. Lewis<ref name="oshd_map_1916">Oregon State Highway Commission. "Tentative Plan, State Highway System," from ''Third Annual Report to the State Highway Commission'', 1916</ref>, it ''does'' appear on the proposed state highway system map adopted by the OSHC on November 27, 1917 as the [[Pendleton-Cold Springs Highway #36]]<ref name="oshd_map_1917">Oregon State Highway Commission. "State of Oregon Proposed State Highway System," 27 November 1917</ref>; this highway name and number persists to this day.
-Originally, the highway's northern terminus was the community of Cold Springs without a connection to the state highway system. This changed by 1922, when the [[Umatilla Cutoff Highway #37]] was created from Umatilla to the Washington State Line near Point Kelley, crossing Cold Springs in the process<ref name="oshd_map_1922">Oregon State Highway Commission. "State of Oregon System of State Highways," 1922</ref>. That same year, on April 19, State Highway Engineer Herbert Nunn approved a survey of the [[Pendleton-Cold Springs Highway #36]] about 5 miles south of Holdman<ref name="oshc_1922-04-19_1245">Oregon State Highway Commission minutes, 19 April 1922, p. 1245</ref>. More research is needed on the results and subsequent OSHD actions of this survey.
+Originally, the highway's northern terminus was the community of Cold Springs without a connection to the state highway system. This changed by 1922, when the [[Umatilla Cutoff Highway #37]] was created from Umatilla to the Washington state line near Point Kelley, crossing Cold Springs in the process<ref name="oshd_map_1922">Oregon State Highway Commission. "State of Oregon System of State Highways," 1922</ref>. That same year, on April 19, State Highway Engineer Herbert Nunn approved a survey of the [[Pendleton-Cold Springs Highway #36]] about 5 miles south of Holdman<ref name="oshc_1922-04-19_1245">Oregon State Highway Commission minutes, 19 April 1922, p. 1245</ref>. More research is needed on the results and subsequent OSHD actions of this survey.
 By November 30, 1922, the road's surface was a rock or gravel surfaced road between Cold Springs and a little ways east of Holdman, but was an unimproved road the rest of the way to Pendleton<ref name="oshd_map_1922"></ref>. The entire road was rock or gravel surfaced by November 30, 1926<ref name="oshd_map_1926">Oregon State Highway Commission. "State of Oregon System of State Highways," 1926</ref>, and wouldn't be fully paved or bituminous until 1937<ref name="oshd_map_1937">Oregon State Highway Commission. "Map of the State of Oregon Showing the Main Traveled Automobile Roads" (official state highway map), 1937</ref>.

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 This designation was relatively short-lived. In August 1934, AASHO extended [[US Route 395|US-395]] from its original southern terminus in Spokane, WA to San Diego, CA through Oregon<ref name="letter_1956-02-06_johnson-to-cooper">A. E. Johnson (AASHO) letter to Forrest E. Cooper, 6 February 1956</ref>. As a result of the southerly extension, [[Oregon Route 15|OR-15]] was eliminated in its entirety from the state highway system in favor of the [[US Route 395|US-395]] designation<ref name="letter_1934-11-26_baldock-to-engineers">R. H. Baldock (OSHD) letter to all division and resident maintenance engineers, 26 November 1934</ref>.
-[[File:1972-10-13_OSHD_AASHO-US395-app_p6_part.jpg|400px|thumb|right|This map from the 1972 OSHD application to AASHO requesting a reroute of [[US Route 395|US-395]] shows the routing of OR-37 in green. [[Media:1972-10-13_OSHD_AASHO-US395-app_p6.jpg|(View full map)]]]]
+[[File:1972-12-31_OfficialRouteMap_OR-37.png|300px|thumb|right|This map showing Oregon's principal routes as of December 31, 1972 shows the routing of OR-37 along former [[US Route 395|US-395]].]]
 ===Designation as Oregon Route 37===
 In October 1972, the Oregon State Highway Division wished to realign [[US Route 395|US-395]] between Cold Springs Junction and Pendleton. This realignment would take [[US Route 395|US-395]] off of the [[Pendleton-Cold Springs Highway #36]] and instead run it further west along [[US Route 730|US-730]] to Umatilla, then south along what was then [[Oregon Route 32|OR-32]] through Hermiston to the junction of what was then [[Interstate 80N|I-80N]] in Stanfield, where it ran until Pendleton where it would then rejoin its existing alignment. The rationale for this was to provide "a much safer and more desirable route of travel" for people following [[US Route 395|US-395]]<ref name="letter_1972-10-13_Baldwin-to-Johnson">George M. Baldwin (OSHD) letter to A. E. Johnson (AASHO), 13 October 1972</ref>.