April 23, 2025 3:05 a.m.
Construction work begins this week on an emergency project to replace a culvert on Oregon 42 that was damaged during the March 16th rainstorm and flood.
A release from the Oregon Department of Transportation said the highway has been limited to a single lane at Shields Creek, about nine miles west of Winston, since the damage was discovered on March 23rd. ODOT Public Information Officer Dan Latham said staff originally visited the site after observing minor erosion around the upstream end of the pipe, but they found a bigger problem on the other side of the highway.
Latham said during the flood, the 30-inch diameter pipe had separated into three pieces. Water coming out of the gaps eroded the surrounding soil and rock of the roadbed, creating a large hole about 10 feet deep and 15 feet wide under the highway’s westbound lane.
ODOT crews filled the void with rock as a temporary fix, then began working on a permanent solution.
The release said while some pipes can be replaced quickly, the terrain at Shields Creek is more challenging, with a narrow roadway and a creek channel that is more than six feet below the road surface. During a three-week design phase, ODOT obtained permits, coordinated with local partners and bid the contract.
Latham said the project will replace the original culvert with a nine-foot diameter pipe that can accommodate most high-water events while also providing a natural streambed to meet fish passage requirements. Three utility lines exposed by the erosion will be relocated under the culvert.
Excavation for such a large pipe will affect both travel lanes at the same time.
Latham said to accommodate traffic, contractors will build a temporary single-lane bypass that will extend 800 feet along the eastbound side of the highway. Flaggers will continue to provide traffic control during construction. Most delays will be brief.
JRT Construction LLC, based in nearby Oakland, was awarded the contract after a successful bid of just over $614,000. Latham said all work on the project, including removal of the bypass lane, is scheduled for completion by Memorial Day weekend.