Expect delays in Union and Baker counties beginning July 6 for chip seal work

LA GRANDE – (Press release from the Oregon Department of Transportation) Travelers should expect daytime lane closures and delays in Union and Baker counties for chip seal operations in July.

Work is scheduled to begin Monday, July 6, on OR 203-A, followed by OR 237-A and finishing on OR 7 in Baker County. Each section will take about one week. All chip seal work is expected to be done by the last week in July.

Crews will return later this summer to stripe the highways, with all project activities scheduled to wrap up by the end of August.

Chip seal helps protect and extend the life of the existing road by applying oil, covering it with rock chips and pressing the material into place with rollers.

All dates are dependent on weather conditions and other factors that may impact the project.

Chip seal locations

• OR 203-A (La-Grande-Baker Highway): From Exit 265 westbound off-ramp at milepost 6, to east of Godley Road at milepost 15.
• OR 237-A (Cove Highway): From Conley Road at milepost 11, to north of Bryan Street in Union, at milepost 21.5.
• OR 7 (Whitney Highway): From Phillips Lake at milepost 35, to Auburn Avenue in Baker City at milepost 51.

Travel impacts

Please slow down and use caution in chip seal work zones. Allow extra travel time and watch for crews and equipment.

What to Expect

• Flaggers and pilot cars guiding single lane traffic.
• Delays of up to 20 minutes.
• Reduced speed limits.
• Loose rock on the road for several days after ship seal work.
• Possible nighttime or early morning delays while crews sweep the road.
• People biking through the areas should be prepared to ride on chip-covered pavement behind a pilot car. Shoulders may be temporarily unusable.

To help prevent windshield damage from loose rock, slow down and leave extra space between vehicles.

If possible, consider an alternate route to avoid delays.

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Elkhorn Media Group