 A large void, measuring about 10 feet in height and 15 feet in width, can be seen under the surface of Oregon 42 at Shields Creek, about nine miles west of Winston, on March 23, 2025. The extreme high flow of water that followed the March 15 rainstorm destabilized the culvert, causing the pipe’s three segments to separate. The leaking water then eroded the roadbed, leaving the westbound lane unsupported. ODOT will replace the original 30” pipe with a 9-foot-diameter culvert that will better accommodate high water events while also providing a natural streambed to meet fish passage requirements.
ODOT NEWS RELEASE
Work begins on emergency Oregon 42 culvert replacement this week
April 22, 2025
TENMILE – Construction begins this week on an emergency project to replace a culvert on Oregon 42 that was damaged during the March 15 rainstorm and flood.
The highway has been limited to a single lane with flaggers at Shields Creek (milepost 62.6), about nine miles west of Winston, since the damage was discovered on March 23. ODOT staff originally visited the site after observing minor erosion around the upstream end of the pipe, but they found a bigger problem on the other side of the highway.
During the flood, the 30” diameter pipe had separated into three pieces. Water coming out of the gaps eroded the surrounding soil and rock of the roadbed, creating a large hole about 10 feet deep and 15 feet wide under the highway’s westbound lane.
ODOT crews filled the void with rock as a temporary fix, then began working on a permanent solution.
While some small pipes can be replaced quickly, the terrain at Shields Creek is more challenging, with a narrow roadway and a creek channel that is more than six feet below the road surface. During a three-week design phase, ODOT obtained permits, coordinated with local partners and bid the contract.
The project will replace the original culvert with a nine-foot diameter pipe that can accommodate most high-water events while also providing a natural streambed to meet fish passage requirements. Three utility lines exposed by the erosion will be relocated under the culvert.
Excavation for such a large pipe will affect both travel lanes at the same time.
To accommodate traffic, contractors will build a temporary single-lane bypass that will extend 800 feet along the eastbound side of the highway. Flaggers will continue to provide traffic control during construction. Most delays will be brief.
JRT Construction LLC, based in nearby Oakland, was awarded the contract after a successful bid of $614,278.50. All work on the project, including removal of the bypass lane, is scheduled for completion by Memorial Day weekend.
For more information, contact ODOT Public Information Officer Dan Latham at 541-817-5200 or Dan.Latham@odot.oregon.gov.
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[Additional photos available on project Flickr page.]
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