A project to widen Interstate 5 south of Salem is expected to finish several months ahead of schedule and about $1 million under budget, Oregon Department of Transportation officials said Sept. 25.
The $55.5 million project widened southbound I-5 between Kuebler Boulevard and Delaney Road from two lanes to three. The Salem Reporter says that construction was originally expected to continue into early 2027. ODOT now expects crews to finish by the end of October, when the remaining traffic cones will be removed and the speed limit will increase from 55 mph to 65 mph.
The project was intended to ease congestion on the stretch of I-5 south of Salem, where trucks can slow traffic as they climb the area’s hills.
What began as a proposal for a truck climbing lane grew into a larger project that included two bridge replacements, a new roundabout and sound walls.
ODOT replaced the Battle Creek Road bridge over I-5 and the I-5 bridge over the Commercial Street northbound off-ramp. The Battle Creek Road bridge was also realigned.
A new roundabout was built at Battle Creek Road and Wiltsey Street through a partnership between ODOT, Marion County and the city of Salem.
Derek Moore, an ODOT resident engineer, said the roundabout was supported by Salem because it is near the city’s urban growth boundary and provides a way to slow traffic.
“The city was a big supporter of it,” Moore said.
The project also includes two sound walls built after input from nearby residents, Moore said.
Under budget
Moore said completing the project under budget was notable given the higher costs facing highway construction.
Inflation and oil prices can increase the cost of road projects, he said.
ODOT hired David Evans and Associates to handle the project’s design and part of its management. Moore said the contractor’s work with ODOT helped keep costs down.
“One of the reasons we’re under budget is how well the contractor worked with us,” he said.
The project was also built by K&E Excavating.
Brandon Young, a project manager for K&E, used his remarks at the dedication to highlight the construction workers who spent months building the improvements.
“These men and women are the ones who really deserve the credit,” Young said.
Crews fully closed I-5 for six nights during construction. Young said ODOT received no complaints about the closures.
“It is my understanding that ODOT received zero complaints during these closures … that is something we should all be proud of,” he said.
A major freight route
The stretch of I-5 between Salem and Albany carries heavy freight and commuter traffic, according to ODOT.
Savannah Crawford, ODOT’s Region 2 manager, called the project a transportation investment that will benefit the region and the state.
“This is not just a benefit to the local community, this is a benefit for the state as a whole,” Crawford said.
ODOT Interim Director Chris Warner said the project’s progress was an example of what can happen when agencies and contractors work together.
“When a project goes this well, we owe it to ourselves to understand why,” Warner said.
Anna Hansen, ODOT’s Region 3 manager, also credited collaboration among the agencies, contractors and workers involved.
“We’re ahead of schedule and under budget by about a million dollars — that’s incredible,” Hansen said.
Reporting by Salem Reporter.
