Construction Alert: Chip Seal work begins in Grant County July 10

Oregon Department of Transportation sent this bulletin at 07/03/2023 04:12 PM PDT

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Expect delays in Grant Co. on U.S. 26, U.S. 395-B, and OR 7 for chip seals starting July 10

DAYVILLE - Starting July 10, the Oregon Department of Transportation will be chip sealing several highway sections in the Grant County area, including portions of U.S. 26, U.S. 395-B and OR 7 as listed below. Travelers should expect single-lane travel controlled by flaggers and pilot cars, reduced speeds, loose rock on the roadway, and delays of up to 20 minutes through mid-August. Please plan extra travel time and watch for construction crews and equipment.   

PROJECT LOCATIONS: Crews will be working west to east along these routes.

  1. U.S. 26 (John Day Highway) between Dayville (milepost 131.28) and Mt. Vernon (milepost 154.03). This work is expected to begin July 10 and take about two weeks.
  2. U.S. 395-B (Pendleton-John Day Highway) between Mt. Vernon (milepost 120.51 and moving north to the Fox cemetery (milepost 100). This work is expected to take about one week.
  3. U.S. 26 (John Day Highway) between Prairie City (milepost 175.65) and Austin Junction (U.S. 26 milepost 190.53). This work is expected to take about one week.
  4. OR 7 (Whitney Highway) between the junction of U.S. 26 at Austin Junction (OR 7 milepost zero) and milepost 9.5. This work is expected to take about one week to complete.

NOTE: All dates are dependent on weather conditions and other factors that may impact the project timeline.

A chip seal involves spreading rock chips onto emulsified oil, then pressing the rocks in with rollers. Crews will broom the chip seal several times after it is applied to remove loose rock. This may result in early morning and/or nighttime minor delays. Motorists should expect some loose gravel on the roadway for several days after this operation and are advised to slow down to reduce the amount of flying rock. Later this year, pavement restriping will occur.  

Chip seals help protect and extend the life of the existing roadway.

Bicycle riders should be prepared for traveling on rock chip covered highway sections behind a pilot car with no usable shoulders. Pedestrians, including those with disabilities, will be provided access through or around the work zone.

RANCHERS, FARMERS, PROPERTY OWNERS: Please keep farm equipment off the impacted highway sections during and up to two days after the chip sealing. Also, adjust irrigation pivots and lawn sprinklers to keep water off the roadway. If you have plans for moving livestock on these highway sections, please advise ODOT Transportation Coordinator Zackary Wyllie at (541) 620-2673, or by email at zackary.wyllie@odot.oregon.gov.

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For 24/7 road conditions and traffic alerts visit tripcheck.com or call 5-1-1.

For questions about other projects in Eastern Oregon, visit the project webpage by clicking here.

Where traffic is routed through or around a work zone, pedestrians, including those with disabilities, will also be provided routes through or around the work zone.

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