September 3, 2024 3:30 a.m.

Motorists on Oregon 138W between Elkton and Sutherlin can expect delays for most of September due to a slide repair project.

Dan Latham of the Oregon Department of Transportation said construction is underway at milepost 4.8 near the entrance to the Big K Guest Ranch. Latham said flaggers will provide traffic control from approximately 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. weekdays and possibly on the weekends. Drivers can expect 20-minute delays.

An ODOT release said the next phase of work, beginning around the second week of September, will limit the highway to a single lane through the work zone 24/7 until the end of the month. A temporary traffic signal will be used during this time, and most delays will be brief.

Latham said drivers are asked to slow down and use caution through the work zone.

The project will address a 300-foot section of highway that is vulnerable to ground movement during winter. The most recent slide occurred this past March.

LaDuke Construction, based in Central Point, is the prime contractor for the $2.45 million project. Most work that affects traffic is scheduled to be completed by the end of September.