About
The culvert under U.S. 101 at Bearhead Mountain Lane failed as a result of a high-water event in December 2024 and required emergency repairs. The culvert is still at risk of failure, which could compromise the roadway above. Additionally, the culvert in its current condition is unable to handle the expected winter stream flows.
ODOT recommends replacing the 2-foot culvert with an 11-foot wide pipe that would meet federal fish passage requirements. The wider culvert will improve the crossing’s capacity to carry drainage from large storm events.
The terrain adds a level of difficulty to this project. The highway is nestled between a mountain and a creek, which makes staging difficult. The stream running through the culvert is about 20 feet below the road surface. The depth of the culvert is beyond what traditional construction methods can accommodate, and extensive excavation will be necessary.
Construction will begin on Monday, Sept. 8. From Sept. 8-19, the highway will be limited to a single lane through the work zone. Flaggers will provide 24/7 traffic control. Delays will be less than 20 minutes. Drivers should watch for loose rock in the roadway.
U.S. 101 was closed for one weekend (Sept. 19-21). After a closure of about 40 hours, the highway reopened at 12:20 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 21.
Benefits of rapid replacement
A traditional approach to replacing the culvert would focus on keeping the highway open to all traffic at all times. Because there are no local detours, this would require the construction of a single-lane bypass roadway or bridge. This option would incur additional costs due to the construction of the bypass, a longer construction schedule, and right-of-way and environmental impacts.
Based on our preliminary estimates, a project designed under the traditional approach would cause about six months of traffic disruption. In contrast, a project that allows a 48-hour full closure of the highway could be completed in about 4-6 weeks, with less long-term impact to traffic. By eliminating the bypass and shortening the construction schedule, the rapid replacement approach could save more than a million dollars in total project cost.
A rapid replacement approach has several other benefits:
- Better for economy: Due to the short construction window, the project can be scheduled outside tourist travel season. This means less impact to local economies.
- Ready before winter: Completing the project in October means the new culvert will be ready before the worst weather hits the south coast this winter. Under the traditional approach, the new culvert wouldn’t be operational until a year later.
- Safer for everyone: A shortened schedule and reduced number of traffic stages decreases the risk to both workers and the traveling public.
- Environmental: Our traditional approach would involve a permanent realignment of a fish-bearing stream and both temporary and permanent impacts to adjacent wetlands. The rapid replacement approach closely maintains the existing stream alignment and avoids impacts to adjacent wetlands entirely.
- Right of Way: The traditional approach would require permanent acquisition of additional right of way on the western side of the highway, but with the rapid replacement option can be constructed entirely within the existing ODOT right of way.
Location
U.S. 101
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U.S. 101, milepost 281.85, at the intersection of Bearhead Mountain Lane, about 1,300 feet north of Four Mile Creek.
The work zone is located about six miles south of Bandon and 18 miles north of Port Orford.
Cost and Funding
Bid amount for contract: $1.25 million.
Contractor
Farline Bridge, Inc. (Stayton, Oregon)
Additional Information
Project updates: ODOT will notify the public prior to any road closures or other major traffic impacts. Visit our GovDelivery page to sign up for e-mail updates.
News release: Construction to close U.S. 101 south of Bandon for one weekend in September (Published June 9, 2025).
News release: U.S. 101 will be closed south of Bandon the weekend of Sept. 19-21 (Published August 12, 2025).
News release: Construction begins Monday on culvert project south of Bandon (Published Sept. 4, 2025).
News release: U.S. 101 will be closed this weekend south of Bandon (Published Sept. 16, 2025).
News release: U.S. 101 now open after 40-hour closure south of Bandon (Published Sept. 21, 2025)