Late summer rain can do a number on paving project schedules. The Oregon Department of Transportation has had to reschedule projects in Portland, on Interstate 5 near Salem and now on U.S. 20 over the Santiam Pass. Crews have now resorted to extending weekday evening work hours to Friday to compensate for the wet weather. Originally, work was done Sunday-Thursday nights to minimize delays for vacation and weekend traffic on this heavily used route to central Oregon. To make up for lost work due to wet conditions, paving crews will add work hours of 10 p.m. - 6 a.m. Friday nights to Saturday mornings through October.
The project covers nearly 14 miles from Santiam Junction (U.S. 20/OR 22) in Linn County to Jack Lake Road in Jefferson County.
Expect delays traveling through the area during regular construction hours, 6 p.m.-10 a.m. Sunday-Thursdays. Two-way traffic is controlled with flaggers and a pilot car. Travelers can expect up to 20 minute delays. The project will be completed by October 31.
Work on the roadway includes grinding and inlay of pavement with two inches of asphalt; new guardrail terminals; replacement of damaged signs; center and shoulder rumble strips; new deck joints and concrete overlay for the Lake Creek Bridge; and permanent striping.
Remember, work is weather dependent because paving requires dry and warm conditions. There may be some nights when construction isn’t happening. Travelers should stay alert, watch for signs and drive cautiously through construction zones.
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SUNSET HIGHWAY 8:30 a.m.: Earlier crash involving several vehicles is U.S. 26 eastbound on the right shoulder at the Jefferson exit. Not blocking, but traffic is slow back to OR 217.
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TRIMET MAX DELAYS 8:14 a.m.: TriMet reports that MAX Blue, Green, and Red lines are delayed at least 15 minutes through 8:45 a.m. eastbound due to an earlier mechanical issue near Gateway Transit Center.
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MARQUAM BRIDGE 8:08 a.m.: Crash blocking the middle lane I-5 northbound over the Marquam.
Update 8:17 a.m.: Cleared.
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NORTH PORTLAND 7:38 a.m.: Injury crash with medical crews responding at North Mississippi Avenue at Failing Street.
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INNER EAST SIDE 7:37 a.m.: Injury crash on Southeast 12th Avenue and Burnside.
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BORING 7 a.m.: Crash with injuries on U.S. 26 at Kelso Road in Boring. Westbound lanes of U.S. 26 are blocked.
Update 7:44 a.m.: Cleared.
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Crews continue maintenance work on the St. Johns Bridge in North Portland. The work will add steel reinforcement to the framework under the bridge. The Oregon Department of Transportation crews will close a sidewalk in each direction for up to 30 days. Only one sidewalk will be closed at any time.
Be ready for bikes in travel lanes on the St. Johns Bridge during maintenance work.
There will also be a temporary speed reduction on the bridge to maintain a safe environment for construction crews and other bridge users. The bridge will be open to vehicles throughout the project, but some overnight lane closures (10 p.m.-5 a.m.) are expected for up to five nights.
Pedestrians and bicycles on the St. Johns bridge will share one sidewalk when the other sidewalk is closed for 30 days at a time for the duration of the 60-day project. There will be a temporary pedestrian access route to guide pedestrians and bicyclists on the sidewalk across the bridge during construction. Bicyclists can also choose to ride in the vehicle travel lane.
Drivers in the areas of Tigard, Tualatin and King City are using detours around the continued closure of Beef Bend Road between Roy Rogers and OR 99W. The road will be open to local traffic only as crews replace a culvert at Southwest 146th near the Oak Mont Apartments. The road will be closed through Oct. 29.
Detour map for the Beef Bend Road closure
There are three detour routes:
Passenger vehicles: Roy Rogers Road, Bull Mountain Road and OR 99W.
Trucks: OR 99W and Roy Rogers Road.
Pedestrians: Southwest 146th Avenue, Tewkesbury Road, Chesterfield Lane and Westminster Drive.
A single concrete arch culvert will be installed under Beef Bend Road, replacing two failed culverts. A sidewalk will be installed on the north side of the road, completing sidewalk connectivity between 146th Avenue and Westminster Drive. Sidewalk ramps at 146th Avenue will be upgraded. This project also includes installation of a section of waterline by the city of Tigard and a section of force main sewer by Clean Water Services.
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