The Oregon Department of Transportation announced on April 3 that construction will resume next week on OR 86 between Baker City and Oxbow, with travelers advised to expect single-lane closures and delays. The work is part of an ongoing guardrail replacement project, which will begin approximately seven miles west of Richland and progress eastward.
In addition to the guardrail replacements, crews will upgrade bridge railings and conduct minor repairs on three bridges along the route. The North Pine Creek Bridge, located ten miles east of Halfway, is scheduled for work from mid-April through early June. Work at the West Fork Dry Creek Bridge, three miles east of Halfway, is planned for late April to early May. Repairs at Eagle Creek Bridge, one mile west of Richland, are expected in early to mid-May.
Construction activities are anticipated to continue through June; however, schedules may change depending on conditions. During this period, drivers should prepare for potential delays lasting up to twenty minutes and remain alert for workers and equipment in active zones.
For most locations—including West Fork Dry Creek Bridge and Eagle Creek Bridge—traffic will be managed by automated flagging devices with daily single-lane closures. Drivers encountering these devices are instructed to stop when the light is red and the flag is down; wait until the arm rises before proceeding; and drive cautiously when lights flash orange with flags raised. At North Pine Creek Bridge specifically, a temporary traffic signal will operate around-the-clock throughout construction. Motorists should stop behind the white line during red signals and proceed slowly once green.
Further information about these safety devices can be found via a YouTube video produced by the department. Additional project details are available online at the “OR 86: Guardrail Upgrades Final Phase” webpage.
Travelers interested in receiving updates can sign up for email notifications covering projects in Morrow, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, and Baker counties.
