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ODOT Region 4
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US 97: Lava Butte - South Century Drive
Latest News
Short delays on US 97 planned between October 13 and October 23, 2009
Logging operations associated with the US97 Lava Butte - S. Century Drive Project between MP 150 - 151 near Cottonwood Road, are planned beginning Tuesday, October 13 and will continue through Friday, October 23.  Operations will be during daylight hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.  Flaggers will be stopping traffic in both directions for up to 6 minutes.  Variable message boards will provide advance notice of delays.  In order to protect motorists,  stopping traffic is necessary because the trees to be removed are located adjacent to the highway.

Coffee with ODOT
The final Coffee with ODOT for this construction season will be held on Thursday, October 15, 2009 of from 9-10 a.m. at Mavericks in Sunriver.  The address is 18135 Cottonwood Road, Sunriver, Oregon.  The Coffees will begin again in the spring of 2010 when construction activities commence.

Schedule
The three year and $16 million US 97: Lava Butte - South Century Drive Project was awarded to Hap Taylor & Sons dba Knife River in June 2009.   The project is partially funded ($11.7 million) by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. 
 
The following is the preliminary construction schedule:
 
 Construct new northbound lanes including overcrossings   Summer 2009-Spring 2010
 Reconstruct old US 97 (new access to Lava River Caves)  Summer 2009-Spring 2010
 Open northbound lanes to traffic  June 2010
 Modify southbound lanes including new ramps and
  overcrossings
  Summer 2010 - Fall 2011
 Construction completed  Fall 2011

This project is being funded, in part, by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Funded in part by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Current Information
The first major traffic change will occur July 20, 2009 when the northbound off-ramp at Cottonwood Road is closed.  Traffic normally using this ramp will be detoured onto South Century Drive and through Sunriver back to Cottonwood Road.  The closure will be in affect until June 2010 when the new northbound lanes open to traffic. 
 
For the most current construction news please visit the Region 4 (Central Oregon) Newsroom.  For the most current traffic conditions in the project area, visit TripCheck.
 
Printable Version of Information Paper 
Vicinity Map 
Drawing of US 97 Improvements 
Tree removal in the right of way for the new US 97 north bound lanes.
Preparing right of way for paving
News Releases
July 1, 2009 - Coffees with ODOT to begin July 8 in Sunriver 
 
April 3, 2009 - South US 97 Safety and Improvement Project Work Begins 
Project Components
  • Increase traffic capacity of US 97 between South Century Drive and Lava Butte by constructing a four lane highway (two lanes in each direction).
  • Separate northbound and southbound traffic with a forested median of up to a maximum width of 108 feet.
  • Reconstruct the Cottonwood Road interchange from a partial to a full diamond interchange.
  • Eliminate dangerous intersections by constructing alternative access to Lava Lands Visitor’s Center and Lava River Cave via Crawford Road and Cottonwood Road.
  • Construct roadway shoulders that will accommodate bicyclists.
  • Build two structures under US 97 in an effort to reduce wildlife/vehicle crashes and facilitate wildlife movement.
Why this project is needed
US 97 at the entrance to Lava River Cave looking south towards Cottonwood Road exit.
US 97 at the entrance to Lava River Cave looking south.
The project is needed because US 97 and other roadway approaches in the project area do not and, will not, meet traffic operations and safety needs.  Current lane configuration of US 97 does not provide for adequate capacity for existing and forecast travel demands, nor are there safe ways to access and exit the highway at several key locations in the project area, including Lava Lands Visitor Center, Lava River Cave and Cottonwood Road. 

The highway and accesses do not meet current design and operational standards to accommodate existing and forecast traffic volumes.  Traffic volumes in certain locations exceed or are forecast to exceed the capacity of the existing highway during peak travel periods, resulting in congestion, delays, reduced mobility, and greater potential for crashes.
How ODOT plans to solve these problems
The proposal is to: (1) separate northbound and southbound traffic with a forested median of up to an approximate maximum of 108 feet in width, (2) increase the capacity of the existing two- and three-lane highway to four lanes (two in each direction), and (3) reconstruct the Cottonwood Road interchange into a full diamond interchange (on and off ramps in both directions).
 
Highway access would be limited to the Cottonwood Road interchange and a right-in access to the Lava Lands Visitor Center and Benham Falls at Crawford Road.  In the winter, right-out access for southbound US 97 traffic would also be provided at Crawford Road to allow for recreational uses.
 
Direct highway access would be removed at Lava River Cave, and the project would provide alternative access with a new access road east of US 97.  The new access road would connect Cottonwood Road and Lava River Cave, and cross under US 97 to connect with Crawford Road.
 
In an effort to reduce the number of wildlife/vehicle crashes and facilitate wildlife movement  and habitat connections, structures and fencing to accommodate wildlife passage under US 97 in two locations are being proposed.  One of the structures is part of the connection of Lava River Cave to Crawford Road.  
 
Project Materials

 Final EA       Draft EA Sections 1 and 2 
 FONSI  Draft EA Section 3
 De Minimis Finding   Draft EA Sections 4 and 5
 August 2008 Hearing Flier   Draft EA Appendices
 
ODOT Contacts

Name
 Title
 Office Phone
 Email Address
Jay Davenport Asst. Project Mgr. (541) 388-6383 Jay.Davenport@ODOT.state.or.us
Stephanie Serpico
 Consultant Project  Mgr.
 (541) 388-6309
 Stephanie.L.Serpico@ODOT.state.or.us
Gary Farnsworth
 Area Manager
 (541) 388-6071
 Gary.C.Farnsworth@odot.state.or.us
Rex Holloway
 Community Liaison Rep.
 (541) 388-6178
 Rex.A.Holloway@odot.state.or.us

 
Page updated: October 13, 2009

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