Some ODOT projects delayed, others in full swing

By Larry Meyer - Argus Observer
Sunday, July 8, 2007 12:47 AM PDT

Highway construction sites were quiet last week as construction crews enjoyed the Fourth of July holiday. This view of the North Ontario Interchange project shows some of the preliminary work on the construction of the new Oregon Highway 201 bridge over Interstate 84.

ONTARIO - Although some major highway construction projects are completed in Malheur County and throughout Eastern Oregon, the Oregon Department of Transportation still has at least two major ventures in the Ontario area to finish, and work on both will continue into next year, according to ODOT officials.

ODOT Region 5 manager Monte Grove and Region 5 Public Information Officer Tom Strandberg talked about finished and upcoming projects this week when they visited the Argus Observer to give an update on construction across the area.

Strandberg reconfirmed that the planned closure of the Station Boulevard overpass, previously scheduled to start Monday, has been postponed until November.

That entire project, called the Station Boulevard-Snake River Bundle, includes replacement of approach spans on the twin Snake River Bridges, plus other deck repairs and enhancements and the replacement of a freeway bridge over Oak Road, northwest of Ontario, along with repairs on the Stanton overpass. Another ongoing project is the replacement of the North Ontario Interchange, a venture that is well-underway.

“They are ahead of schedule,” Grove said, expressing satisfaction with the contractor’s performance.

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While a lot of work has been completed to prepare the approaches to the new North Ontario Interchange bridge, more labor remains to be done on the construction of the span and the on- and off- ramps.

Other projects are set to begin up and down Interstate 84 between Ontario and La Grande during the next few years, Grove said.

Those projects include the rebuilding of the interchange immediately north of Lime, correction of two of the worst curves in the Burnt River Canyon and the addition of a third lane, or truck lane, on Three Mile Hill. Other projects scheduled away from the freeway include the reconstruction of six local roads to provide access to the site of a proposed bio-refinery and construction of left-turn lanes on U.S. Highway 20-26 at Columbia Avenue, north of Nyssa.

“Were spending close to $100 million a year,” Strandberg said, referring to ODOT Region 5, which includes eight Eastern Oregon counties. ODOT will spend about $300 million on construction between now and 2011, he said. Also scheduled to begin this fall, but under the auspices of the Idaho Transportation Department, is the replacement of the bridge over the Snake River at Weiser.

Grove and Strandberg covered a number of subjects during the visit, including the recently installed electrical system to heat up sections of I-84 through Ladd Canyon during the winter months. The system, designed to nullify icy conditions, has been successful Grove said.

“It’s working pretty good,” Grove said.

However, Grove pointed out the system does not get enough current to keep the pavement clear if the snowfall is heavy. Its purpose is to reduce black ice, he said.