Union County's road maintenance schedule has hit a snag due to recent wildfire activity. According to the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), the chip seal projects on key highways have been delayed. Initially, July saw the successful application of chip seal on OR 204 (Tollgate Highway) and OR 237 (La Grande-Baker Highway) spanning from North Powder to Union. However, the work slated for completion by the end of July was disrupted by fires the week of July 22.
This August, crews are aiming to finalize the interrupted work on OR 204 and OR 237. A fog seal is on the calendar for August 19 – 21, with highway striping to follow post-August 21. While these essential maintenance efforts are much needed, they will inevitably cause some inconvenience for travelers. Delays of up to 20 minutes can be expected, and a speed reduction will be necessary. Those navigating these areas should be prepared for the presence of flaggers and pilot cars, as well as plan for potential extra travel time or seek alternate routes if possible.
Looking further ahead, drivers can anticipate additional maintenance in June 2025. ODOT has earmarked a return to the affected highways to apply chip seal on OR 237 (Cove Highway) north of Cove, from milepost 11 to milepost 22, and on OR 203 (La Grande-Baker Highway) from milepost 15, near Union, to milepost 6, west of the I-84 Exit 265 off-ramp.
For now, ODOT urges caution and patience as the summer wraps up with the necessary fog seal and striping operations. Those local to the area or passing through should be mindful of the upcoming traffic impacts during this period and adjust their plans accordingly. The adjustments to daily commutes and travel are small price for the longevity and safety provided by these roadway improvements.
