Marion, Polk and Yamhill Counties State Highway Construction Update: March 18th-25th

(SALEM) - Highway officials say work on of highway projects are underway in Marion, Polk and Yamhill Counties. Watch for roadside construction work on I-5 around the clock with nighttime lane closures and detours for local streets and roads.

In Salem, Marietta Street under I-5 is closed for bridge construction, with no through traffic between Kuebler Boulevard and Fairview Industrial Drive. Also in Salem, Turner Road has occasional daytime lane closures with traffic controlled by flaggers. Use alternate local routes.

On Oregon Highway 22: motorists need to be aware of the North Santiam Highway Bridge Replacement Project on North Santiam Highway 22, between milepost 60 and 76, approximately 10 miles east of Detroit.

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 ending at milepost 76. Work on this project has been completed, with the exception of some minor repair work that will happen under more conducive weather conditions.

On US 20, drivers need to intermittently watch out for construction at the Lake Creek Bridge Replacement Project on the Santiam Highway, Hwy. US 20, 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 scope of work on the Rickreall Interchange Project merging Highways 22, 99W and 223 between Willamina and Salem, includes, the construction of two bridges that will eliminate the current `at grade" crossings at the intersections of OR22 & 99W and OR22 & OR223. Also, 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 radii 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 - Rickerall 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 on the Dallas - Rickreall Highway, and OR99W from the intersection of Rickreall Road to OR22.

Work on the project at Oregon`s Salmon River Highway 18 between Oldsville Road and Ash Road 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.

This is the section of Highway 22, the North Santiam Highway, beginning at Fir Grove Lane, west of Mehama, and ending at Gun Creek, just east of Little Sweden area, near Big Cliff Dam.

This project is asphalt repaving, striping, and guard railing, signing and providing other safety improvements. This work is scheduled to begin Monday, March 20th with the installation of guardrail flares. Most of the work will be done at night, dependent on weather.