Highlighted Project:‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ OR 11: Milton-Freewater to Stateline Safety Improvements

Details

County: Umatilla

Nearest City: Milton-Freewater

Milepoints: 30.59 - 35.32

Estimated Cost Range: $10M - $50M

Anticipated Construction Years: 2029 - 2031

Project Description

This stretch of OR 11 north of Milton-Freewater has a history of serious crashes, including eight fatalities in the past eight years, including pedestrian fatalities. The road is a high-speed, five-lane rural highway with a pattern of dangerous left-turn and intersection-related crashes. The corridor includes two high-ranking safety concern areas (SPIS sites) highlighting its elevated crash risk.

The project proposes safety and mobility improvements along OR 11.

A 2027–2030 ARTS project, with Great Streets 2.0 funding, proposes converting OR 11 into a restricted crossing U-turn (R-CUT) corridor. This includes modifying the 5th Street signal, upgrading the Main Street/OR 11 signal for ADA compliance, improving detection at the state line signal, and installing traffic separators and islands to restrict left turns and through movements at public roads. The plan includes ten U-turn points in the 5-mile corridor.

OR 11 connects Milton-Freewater to Walla Walla, WA, making it a vital route for daily travel. After recent crashes, the community called for change. This project responds to that call, aiming to reduce crashes and save lives.

Expected Outcome

OR 11 north of Milton-Freewater will operate as a safer, more controlled corridor.

All left turns and through movements at public road intersections will be restricted to reduce crash risks. Instead, drivers will use designated U-turn points—space out in each direction along the 5-mile stretch. A center median with traffic separators and islands will guide traffic and prevent unsafe movements, helping improve safety for everyone traveling through the area.

Safety

Improve overall user safety.

We will improve traffic flow as well as reduce conflict points and risky maneuvers by redesigning this section of highway.

Reduce the number and severity of crashes.

By restricting left turns and through movements, adding U-turns, and aligning signal timing, we will reduce the chance of high-speed crashes (both head-on and angle/T-bone).

Prevent wrong-way driver events and crashes.

We will improve lane visibility and reduce driver confusion by installing medians, traffic separators and adding clearly marked U-turn locations.

Access

Improve bicycle and pedestrian routes.

People who walk, roll, use transit, or bicycle will have updated ADA-compliant pedestrian safety features at key intersections.