PORTLAND (AP) - The Oregon Department of Transportation has issued a notice of default to the contractor behind a failed highway construction project plagued by landslides.
The project aims to eliminate 10 miles of tight curves on U.S. 20 in the Oregon Coast Range by building 6.5 miles of new road.
Major construction has largely halted since February 2010, when engineers discovered that ancient landslides they thought had been stopped had started up again. Two bridges were off plumb.
The contractor, Yaquina (yah-KEE'-nah) River Constructors, declined to comment when reached Friday by The Associated Press.
The notice of default means the contractor has 10 days to fix or issue a plan to fix problems noted by ODOT.
ODOT says the contractor has made no acceptable progress on four major bridge sections.
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