Day and nighttime construction activities continue in Hermiston along U.S. 395 for the Oregon Department of Transportation’s $3.7 million highway improvement project. Most of the work will be performed at nighttime to minimize impacts to traffic and local businesses along the route.
The ADA ramp upgrades are complete and the signal work at the Jennie Avenue intersection is expected to be completed by the end of next week. Grinding and paving will continue over the next several weeks. After paving work is complete, the permanent concrete median curbs will be installed at the Elm Avenue intersection to restrict turning movements (where the candle stick cones were installed).
Traffic impacts for the week of May 2 are as follows:
Day Shift 7 a.m.– 5 p.m.
Electricians will complete hook up of the pedestrian push buttons for crosswalk signals at the Jennie Avenue intersection, plus complete remaining work at this site.
Permanent signing will be installed between Fourth Street and Theater Lane. This will include some work on signal/light poles, resulting in lane closures and minor delays. Some of this work may be performed during nighttime.
Additional daytime work will be performed off the roadway with no impacts to traffic.
Night Shift: 5 p.m.–7 a.m.
Contractor will continue grinding/paving between Theater Lane and Highway 730 (Devore). Flaggers will be utilized at the signalized intersections to control traffic as needed. Minor delays can be expected through the intersections. In addition, the highway will be reduced to one-lane in each direction. Minor impacts to traffic flow can be expected.
Monday: Paving will start at Theater Lane in the fast/left lane and travel north to Highway 730.
Tuesday: Paving will finish to Highway 730 northbound and loop back in slow/right lane towards Theater Lane.
Wednesday–Thursday: Current plan is to finish all paving from Theater Lane to Highway 730. This is expected to take long days, possibly running past the 7 a.m. time frame.
The construction project includes rebuilding dozens of ADA sidewalk ramps, updating traffic signal controls at several intersections, installing new traffic signals at the Jennie Avenue intersection, installing median curbs to control turning movements at the Elm Street (OR 207) intersection, and repaving the six-mile-long section of highway between S.E. Fourth Street (mile post 6) and U.S. 730 (mile post zero). All work is scheduled to be completed by July 4.
