The Oregon Department of Transportation’s highway upgrade project along Oregon Highway 11 between Pendleton and the junction of OR 204 is nearing completion.
The multi-faceted project that includes pavement, guardrail, rumble strip and striping upgrades has slowed traffic throughout the summer during nighttime paving operations and daytime guardrail improvements and other work. Motorists frustrated with the travel impacts will have to live through another couple weeks of flaggers and 20-minute delays, and are encouraged to watch for crews and plan extra travel time.
Paving activities are now completed. The remaining guardrail upgrades, application of durable striping and construction of rumble strips should be completed by the end of next week. Some minor delays are possible during the week of November 5 for miscellaneous activities. All work should be done by Nov. 9.
“We know travelers have been frustrated with the traffic delays and impacts this project has caused, and hope folks will focus on the benefits they will see when all the work is done,” said ODOT Project Manager Mike Remily. “One of the unexpected benefits is a couple extra miles of pavement upgrades that we were able to add to the project due to the low bids we received. The extra funds allowed us to extend the length of the paving work. Unfortunately, this also extended the completion date, as well.”
One aspect of the project that might be confusing to some people is the application of durable striping that can last for several years, compared to regular traffic paint that typically needs repainted every year due to the severe winter weather. Last week a temporary stripe was applied as a guide for the durable striping process. Over the next couple weeks the stripes marked by the temporary lines will be ground down and new plastic based striping material inlaid below the level of pavement, which will help protect it from traffic and snow plows.
