Road and Highway Construction Update for Marion, Polk and Yamhill Counties

(SALEM) - Watch for roadside construction work in several locations throughout the mid-valley. Highway officials say the improvements to the local area are substantial, and they appreciate the patience of local motorists as crews endeavor to complete and achieve completion of several projects.

South Salem Interstate 5
Crews are staying busy on I-5 in Salem between the Kuebler exit and Oregon Highway 22, The Santiam Highway. Between Mileposts 253 and 249, expect with nighttime lane closures and detours for local streets and roads.

Marietta Street under I-5 is closed for bridge construction, with no through traffic between Kuebler Boulevard and Fairview Industrial Drive. Turner Road has occasional daytime lane closures with traffic controlled by flaggers. Use alternate local routes. Highway 22- The North Santiam Highway
On Oregon Highway 22, drivers need to be aware of the North Santiam Bridge Replacement Project, on North Santiam Highway 22 between Mileposts 60 and 76. This area is approximately 10 miles east of Detroit.

ODOT officials say the contractor replaced the existing Whitewater Creek, Marion Creek, Pamelia Creek and North Santiam River bridges and established traffic on these new structures. The bridges are within a 17-mile stretch of Highway 22.

Work on this project has been completed, with the exception of some minor repair work that will happen under more conducive weather conditions.

Highway 20- Santiam Highway
On US Highway 20, drivers will pass the Lake Creek Replacement Project on Santiam Highway at Milepost 87.

This project is replacing Lake Creek Bridge near the entrance to Suttle Lake. Special permits are required for over width vehicles. All annually permitted over-width loads are directed to use Highway 58. Work is temporarily shutdown on this project due to prolonged snow accumulation. Work is expected to resume as forecasts and conditions improve.

The Rickreall Interchange Project
Work continues on the Rickreall Interchange Project at the intersection of Oregon Highways 22, 99W and 223. This interchange project is funded by the Oregon Transportation Investment Act, and represents a huge change for decades of difficult maneuvering by drivers where these rural highways come together.

Highway officials say the scope of work includes, but is not limited to, the construction of two bridges that will eliminate the current `at grade" crossings at the intersections of OR22 & 99W and OR22 & OR223. In addition, a new traffic signal will be added to the intersection of Rickreall Road and Highway 99W. These major portions of the work will improve traffic flow, as well as overall public safety.

The most significant change, or impact to the public, is the immediate and permanent loss of on-street parking on the east side of OR99W between Church Street and Pageant Street.

At the intersection of OR99W & Rickreall Road, the radius of the intersection will be widened to accommodate new left-turn lanes on OR99W for both northbound and southbound traffic. In addition, the existing flashing beacon will be removed and replaced with a new signalized system that will control the traffic movements. This traffic control change will improve the safety of the intersection and the overall flow of the traffic. The improvement and modernization of this intersection is necessary to provide OR223 (Dallas - Rickreall Hwy.) traffic with a means to access OR99W.

When the project is completed, motorists traveling eastbound out of Dallas on OR223 that want to travel either northbound or southbound on OR99W, will need to use Rickreall Road.

Motorists should expect daytime delays on OR223 (Dallas Rickreall Hwy.) and OR99W from the intersection of Rickreall Road to OR22.

The Salmon River Highway
On Highway 18, The Salmon River Highway, the construction beginning at Oldsville Road west of McMinnville, and ending at Ash Road, west of Dayton is near finished. Work on this project between Mileposts 40.4 and 50.1 has been completed, with the exception of some minor repair work that will be done when the weather conditions are more favorable for this type of work.