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Project-Details





U.S. 20: Safety Upgrades (Albany to Corvallis)

Construction Phase

Region 2: Willamette Valley and Northwest Oregon (Albany, Corvallis, Benton)

​​​​​​​​​​Safety improvements along U.S. 20 between North Albany and Corvallis​​​​​​.
Construction Banner

Impacts

Traffic Impact

Expect delays and lane closures from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 24 and Wednesday Jan. 25. 

Watch for trucks entering and leaving the road. Be advised the speed limit is reduced to 45 m.p.h. in the work zones.

Construction Impacts

We are working during the daytime, expect construction noise. Construction is estimated to be completed in 2023.​

We started work on Phase 2 by clearing some of the trees between Pilkington Avenue to Asbahr Avenue. This work is needed so utility relocation work can begin.

The new LED lights at the U.S. 20 and Granger Avenue intersection are installed and working! Later this winter, we'll install lights at the U.S. 20 and Independence Highway intersection. These lights are part of Phase 1 work and will help increase visibility and safety.

Construction Activities

We're restriping the highway and adding new reflective pavement markers, as weather allows. 

​Visit TripCheck ​for the most current traffic information.

Pedestrians, including those with disabilities, will have access through or around the work zone.

Details

About

Between North Albany and Corvallis, U.S. 20 is a rural two-lane highway with heavy commuter traffic of more than 18,000 vehicles per day. In addi​tion to motorists, many bicyclists use this corridor.

This portion of the highway has a high volume of crashes and poor visibility for travelers turning on and off U.S. 20.  In 2016, we completed the U.S. 20 Highway Safety Study and recommended a variety of safety improvements along this corridor, some of which are being implemented as part of this project. 

Project Area Map​

Click map image to enlarge.
Click headings below to learn more about each phase.


Phase One Safety Upgrades

U.S. 20 at Granger Avenue and Independence Highway

Key Issues
  • High number of crashes from cars turning onto the highway. Increased traffic reducing ​the number of acceptable gaps/breaks in traffic for turning.​
  • Limited sight distance at county road intersections due to right turning vehicle queues.
  • Limited distance between highway and railroad.​
Improvements
  • Installing a buffered right turn lane (westbound).
  • Installing a median acceleration lane for left turning vehicles (eastbound).
  • Adding striping and signing to guide bicycles through the intersections.
  • Upgrading signing and striping for railroad crossings.
  • Adding centerline and shoulder rumble strips.
  • Stormwater treatment.
  • Building a short section of multiuse path above a new 20+ foot high retaining wall at Independence Highway for forward compatibility with the planned Benton County Bikeway.

U.S. 20 near Garland Nursery

Key Issues
  • Vehicles heading westbound run off of the road at the outside edge of curve.
  • Rear end crashes when vehicles slow down to enter the nursery. Improvements
  • Widening shoulders.​
  • Adding centerline and shoulder rumble strips.
  • Raising the outside edge of pavem​ent on the curve.
  • Remove fixed objects (trees or poles) near the outside of the curve/north side of highway where possible.
Proposed Improvements
  • ​Widening the shoulders.
  • Adding rumble strips. Rumble strips are grooves cut into the pavement that create sound and vibration when they have driven over, to alert the driver that they are leaving the lane.
  • Raising the outside edge of pavement on the curve.
  • Removing fixed objects, like trees or poles, near the outside of the curve/north side of the highway as possible.

Phase Two Proposed Upgra​des (In Design)

​Conifer Boulevard to Merloy Avenue​

Key Issues
  • Rear end and turning crashes due to slowing vehicles and limited gaps.​
  • Large number of highway accesses/driveways.
Proposed Improvements
  • Adding a center two way left turn lane.
  • Treating stormwater runoff.
  • Replacing sidewalk with a short section of multiuse path on the east side between Conifer Boulevard and NE Pilkington Avenue for forward compatibility with the planned Benton County Bikeway project currently in development.

Future Improvements – Proposed Safety Upgrades Scenic Drive to North Albany Road

​ Key Issues
  • Rear end and turning crashes due to slowing vehicles and limited gaps.
  • Large number of highway accesses and local roads.​
Proposed Improvements
  • Adding a center two way left turn lane.
  • Adding and replacing guardrail where needed.
  • Widening shoulders.
  • Bicycle and pedestrian improvement alternatives are being coordinated with the City of Albany and Benton County.
  • Stormwater treatment.
  • Upgrade signs and markings at railroad crossing.

Note: The Scenic Drive to North Albany Road portion of U.S. 20 is funded for preliminary design and evaluation of impacts. These steps will confirm future funding needs. No funding has been identified for final design or construction at this time.​​​

​

Schedule

Phase One: Construction from December 2021 to August 2023

Phase Two: Design through 2022 with construction estimated to begin in early 2023
​

Previous Online Open House

​​View our archived online open house​, held from October 19 – N​ovember 15, 2020 to learn about the safety upgrades planned for U.S. 20.
​

Location

U.S. 20 | Conifer Boulevard near Corvallis to North Albany Road

Cost and Funding

2018-2021 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP):

  • $4.2 million for a left turn lane from the Children's Farm Home to the Merloy Avenue intersection.

  • $4 million for Garland Nursery and Granger Avenue intersection improvements.

House Bill 2017, Keep Oregon Moving funds:

  • $20 million for additional corridor safety improvements (as specified in the About section above).

Total Funding for both phases:

  • $28.2M

​Additional Resources

Learn more about: 

Contacts & Media

Phase 1 Construction Area

Videos


View on YouTube

Project Contacts

Transportation Project Manager
Julie GaNung
Email
julie.e.ganung@odot.oregon.gov
Phone
541-726-2578
Public Information Officer
Angela Beers Seydel
Email
angela.beers-seydel@odot.oregon.gov
Phone
541-726-2442

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Last Updated

1/24/2023 5:37 PM

Project Number

21191

Project Documents

Related documents to this project
21191_FAQs.pdfFrequently Asked Questions (Updated October 2020)
21191_Phase1_Nov2019_Neighborhood_Meeting_Presentation.pdfPowerPoint presentation from the 11/18/19 Neighborhood Meeting.
21191_TrafficSignalsBrochure.pdfBrochure about how we determine where traffic lights are installed.
21191_RoadSafetyAuditFinalReportU.S.20GrangerAndIndependenceBentonCounty.pdfRoad Safety Audit Final Report U.S. 20 at Granger and Independence Benton County: The 2012 U.S. 20 at Granger and Independence Road Safety Audit recommended safety improvements that were included in the 2018-2021 STIP.
21191_11.18.19_NeighborhoodMeetingBoards.pdfDisplay Boards from the 11/18/19 Neighborhood Meeting.
21191_U.S.20HighwaySafetyStudy.pdf2016 study outlining a variety of safety upgrades in the U.S. 20 corridor between Corvallis and Albany.
21191_NL_Nov2019.pdfNewsletter about project updates with details on the proposed Phase One Safety Improvements.