PENDLETON, Ore. – Now that the Pendleton Round-Up is over, Oregon Department of Transportation contractors are pushing to get as much construction work done as possible this year on the $6.4 million US30: Court – Dorion & OR 11 Paving Project. Pavement upgrades on Oregon Highway 11 are nearly complete. Minor asphalt grinding work is scheduled October 14-16 near mile points 4 and 4.5, resulting in lane closures and delays of up to 20 minutes at time. Minor traffic impacts may also be experienced around October 19 when new striping will be applied between Pendleton and Athena. In downtown Pendleton, work to rebuild the dysfunctional Court / Dorion / Westgate Avenue intersection and railroad crossing will continue over the next couple months. Work next week includes replacing waterlines under S.W. Court Avenue between 10^th and 12^th streets. Motorists can expect continued minor delays, lane restrictions and detours around closed sections of roadway in this area.

“Everyone is working towards a goal of opening the reconfigured intersection before the end of the year,” said ODOT Public Information Officer Tom Strandberg.

Until the intersection work is completed, motorists will need to continue to navigate through the construction site and are advised to slow down and drive with extra caution in the area. To help direct motorist safely to shops and restaurants located within the work zone, blue colored traffic cones are used to mark the business access points.

“Some travelers may not realize that the blue colored cones in the work zones are there to show where the business accesses are,” said ODOT Public Information Officer Tom Strandberg. “Basically, the blue cones represent the driveway and safest path to the adjacent business.”

The last phase of the project will be the resurfacing of Court and Dorion Avenues from the rebuilt intersection to the 10^th Street viaduct on the east end of town. This work will be done at night during the 2010 construction season. News releases and automated alerts will be issued next year prior to these activities to help keep local residents and business owners informed.

“ODOT really appreciates everyone’s support so far this year,” Strandberg said. “We know the construction work can be disruptive and ask for you patience. The end product will be safer, smoother roads and a more efficient transportation system for everyone.”

Conceptual drawings showing potential streetscape designs for the area are posted on the City’s Web site at www.pendleton.or.us/ , under the ‘Projects 09-10′ heading. More information about the project is also available by contacting Tom Strandberg at (541) 963-1330, or via email at Thomas.m.strandberg@odot.state.or.us.