Eagle Point, Oregon- A half-mile stretch of Oregon 234 (Sams Valley Highway) near Eagle Point will close for about a month beginning Thursday as crews work to repair sinking pavement caused by ground settling after last winter’s storms.
The closure starts at 8 a.m. Thursday between Modoc Road and Dodge Road at milepost 15.1, the Oregon Department of Transportation said. Drivers will be detoured onto Dodge and Antioch roads, or south on Antioch or Modoc to Table Rock Road to reach Oregon 140 and Oregon 62 in White City. Officials warn of congestion along the detour route and nearby roads and urge travelers to allow extra time or use alternate highways to avoid the area.
Contractor Visar Construction will excavate 20 to 30 feet beneath the roadway to stabilize the sinking section before rebuilding the highway. Once the full closure ends, single-lane restrictions with flaggers and traffic control will remain in place until the project is completed, which is expected by Nov. 15.
ODOT said temporary fixes have been made since the sinking first appeared, but the project was delayed after geologists discovered deeper voids beneath the roadway that required a more extensive reconstruction plan. The work was initially scheduled to begin in June.
In the meantime, the highway remains marked with signs and traffic cones, and the speed limit through the affected area is reduced to 35 mph. Officials advise drivers to use caution and watch for uneven pavement leading up to Thursday’s closure.
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