Oregon Department of Transportation maintenance crews will be replacing the 60-foot-long Gekeler Slough culverts under U.S. 30 east of La Grande near the Flying J Truck Stop (mile post 4.5).
Motorists can expect 24-hour flaggers controlling single lane travel through the work zone as crews dig up the roadway to perform the culvert replacement work. The project is scheduled to begin Sept. 21 and take about four days to complete. Drivers are advised to watch for crews and equipment, plan extra travel time through this area, and expect single lane travel with delays of up to 20 minutes.
“We were hoping to insert new linings into 2 of the existing 3 culvert to reduce traffic impacts and simplify the project, but the existing culverts have deteriorated to a point where they need to be replaced,” said District 13 Manager Ace Clark. “The roadway will now have to be dug up to replace the old, deteriorating culverts.”
Only one lane will be worked on a time to keep single-lane traffic moving.
“We ask for everyone’s cooperation and patience,” Clark said. “We’ll get the project completed and the route open to two-lane travel as soon as possible.”
