Construction on Highway 99 West between Rickreall and Monmouth will continue through 2024, the Oregon Department of Transportation said.ODOT spokesperson David House said surveying started this week and mowing and other vegetation clearing is slated to begin next week.”So actual ground work is likely to be going by the end of June,” he said.The estimated cost of the projects is $11.3 million.Construction is expected to take place from Sunday nights at 7 p.m. until Friday mornings at 6 a.m. ODOT said there will be lane closures and there will be flaggers to direct traffic.The first part of the project will be a left turn lane at the intersection of Highway 99 and Orrs Corner Road just south of Rickreall.ODOT said that construction, preparing the intersection with Clow Corner Road and moving utilities at both locations will run through October.The second part of the project involves building a roundabout at Clow Corner Road and Highway 99.The roundabout with Clow Corner will be constructed to the east of Highway 99. Clow Corner will close to the east of Highway 99 for about five months during construction.ODOT said Clow Corner will then close to the west while the roundabout is connected and the existing highway is removed.That is expected to start in February 2024 and last through October 2024.The roundabout is designed with a bypass lane in the center to allow oversized vehicles to travel through, although that will require a permit. That will only be accessible by moving a barrier.Bill Poehler covers Marion and Polk County for the Statesman Journal. Contact him at bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com
