Through traffic on North River Drive will be curtailed and, in one section, shut down this summer for two construction projects intended to improve the road and solve problems between Quartzville Drive and Pleasant Valley Road.
Linn County’s Road Department has received two federal grants to fund the improvements and repairs. The funding, totaling $5,634,027.20, comes from the Western Federal Lands Infrastructure program, which aims to improve access to federal lands (such as national parks and national forests).
Both projects have been awarded to North Santiam Paving Co. out of Stayton.
The first project begins at the intersection with Quartzville Drive and ends at the intersection with Foster Dam Road. Improvements include widening the roadway between Quartzville Drive and Sunnyside Road and stabilization of the slide area.
The total cost of the project will be $3,135,312, with $321,997 coming from the county.
The project includes:
- Widening the gravel roadway shoulders for safer bicycle and pedestrian use, and realignment of the geometry of curved sections of roadway to improve roadside safety and improve access for truck traffic.
- Construction of an additional access and parking lot at Lewis Creek Park to alleviate overflow parking along the roadway shoulders due to over-capacity of the existing parking lots.
- Improvements to the current entrances to Gedney Creek boat ramp.
- An asphalt pavement overlay to protect and preserve the existing roadway.
- Repair/stabilization of a slide area located about 350 feet west of the Quartzville intersection, and roadway repair.
The contractor anticipates starting this portion of the work in mid-June and it is anticipated to last until this fall.
During construction the road will be closed between Quartzville Drive and Sunnyside Road. Local residents will be accommodated. Motorists and cyclists should anticipate delays.
The second project begins at the intersection with Pleasant Valley Road and terminates at the intersection with Foster Dam Road.
The project cost will be $3,143,555.20, with $322,843.12 coming from the county, and will include:
- Minor realignment of the geometry of curved sections of roadway to improve roadside safety and improve access for truck traffic to “vital natural resources.”
- Asphalt pavement grinding to remove old asphalt and to minimize increasing the depth of asphalt installed.
- Repair of cracks within the roadway section
- Asphalt pavement overlay to protect and preserve the existing roadway.
This section of roadway will be open during construction. The contractor plans to begin work mid-July, with an approximate one-month duration. Motorists and cyclists should anticipate delays.
For more information, visit www.linncountyor.gov/roads/page/capital-improvement-program.