A new paving project is now underway in a popular area of
Roseburg but, the Oregon Department of Transportation hopes traffic won't be too much of an issue.
The project will repave half a mile of Harvard Avenue in Roseburg, from Bellows Street to Madroana Avenue. It’s a busy area, which is why most of the construction work will happen at night between 7:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
The area is right in front of Roseburg High School, but the project is scheduled to end mid-September, so it should only affect a few days of school.
Harvard may not look like it’s in terrible shape, but ODOT spokesperson Dan Latham says, the time to act is now.
“A lot of times you won't see the damage, but there are small cracks there and the longer you let it go, the more damage you're going to have to create, the deeper you have to grind, and the more costly it is,” saya Latham.
“So, we figure take care of it now. The repairs will cost a lot less now than they would later on,” he added.
Crews will start grinding and repaving the on and off ramps for Interstate 5's Exit 124, on Monday and Tuesday, August 27th and 28th. The ramps may be closed for several hours each of those nights, so drivers are advised to take Exit 125 to garden valley instead.
ODOT hopes working overnight will save drivers a hassle, but they want to remind residents that working through the night can be dangerous for construction crews. They're asking drivers to be especially careful driving through the area until the project is complete in mid-September.
