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Stations
Why is this project needed?
This project addresses issues we've heard from the community in recent years, including:
- OR 18 experiences heavy traffic in the project area.
- Summer weekend traffic creates considerable delays, especially if there is an incident.
- The amount of traffic on OR 18 makes it difficult for drivers to turn left from OR 22 onto OR 18.
- Freight traffic has been using alternative routes instead of OR 18, which can pose safety issues on local roadways.
- More crashes are happening with drivers crossing over the center line into oncoming traffic, or rear-ending the cars in front of them.
To confirm these issues and to see if there were any new ones we should consider, we asked the community to share their experiences in our first online open house. You can read more about the feedback we received in the summary document.
Project timeline
The timeline below shows where we are today and the next steps of the project. Right now, we're wrapping up our outreach to finalize our Facility Plan and design.
Click on the timeline graphic to enlarge.
Additional information
The documents linked below provide the background of past efforts that helped us get to the current project:
- The 2002 H.B. Van Duzer Forest Corridor-Steel Bridge Road Environmental Assessment outlines impacts to people and the environment for several proposed OR 18 projects.
- The Environmental Assessment was revised in 2004.
- Learn about the evaluation criteria (2021) we used to compare system connectivity and interchange concepts before a preferred design concept was selected.
How we landed on the preferred concept
We learned through our outreach efforts, that the community and project Steering Committee preferred the Valley Junction Interchange concept because it:
- Improves safety and reduces congestion along OR 18.
- Centralizes OR 22/Hebo Road and Spirit Mountain Casino traffic.
- Includes more local access roads north and south of OR 18.
Click on the image to enlarge.
Previous online open house
If you missed the first online open house or want to refresh your memory, you can view our archived online open house. The archived online open house includes concept elements and the top system connectivity concepts.
Top community concerns and how we're addressing them:
We heard you! At our last online open house, we received a few new concerns listed below. You can click on the text to learn more about what our team is doing to address these concerns.
We are working with the freight community to ensure that our design meets the needs of both the businesses and the community.
The new design will replace the existing 4' shoulder with 10' shoulders on OR 18 and replace the existing 1-3’ shoulders with 8’ shoulders on OR 22. We are also adding new frontage and backage roads with bike lanes.
The preferred concept will help reduce traffic congestion around Spirit Mountain Casino by:
- Widening OR 18 from two to four lanes.
- Developing a new interchange just east of the casino, which will eliminate the challenging left turn from OR 22.
- Including better local access north and south of OR 18 to provide alternate routes.
Facility Plan for the preferred concept
Our next step is to finalize the draft Facility Plan for the Valley Junction Interchange concept. It will then be formally adopted, allowing us to ask for the funding needed to build the project. This Facility Plan is the guiding document for all future work and was developed using feedback from the project Steering Committee, stakeholders and the community.
Preferred design concept elements
This map shows the locations that correspond with the numbered items below.
Click on the image to enlarge.
Highway elements:
- OR 18
Convert OR 18 to a four lane expressway with a median barrier between people traveling east and west. This will limit access but make it safer for residents and those visiting businesses who are trying to access OR 18 (see item 10 for more details). - OR 22
Improve safety by widening the roadway and straightening out the curves.
Interchange elements:
- OR 18 Spirit Mountain Casino Interchange
Close the existing OR 18 Spirit Mountain Casino Interchange, along with the OR 18 Spirit Mountain Casino ramps and connector road. - OR 18 Valley Junction Interchange
Move the OR 18 and OR 22 intersection to the west and create a new Valley Junction Interchange with on and off ramps.
Intersection elements:
- OR 18 and Rowell Creek Road intersection
Close the existing OR 18 and Rowell Creek Road intersection. Travelers would use a new Rowell Creek Road undercrossing to get to the frontage road (to the north of OR 18) and onto either the Valley Junction or Fort Hill Interchanges. - OR 22 and the new frontage road
Allow local traffic to use the new frontage road (along the north side of OR 18) to get to OR 22 without using the Valley Junction Interchange. - OR 22 westbound ramp
Connect travelers heading west on OR 18 to OR 22 at the new Valley Junction Interchange (shown on the north side of OR 18). - OR 22 eastbound ramp
Connect travelers heading east on OR 18 to OR 22 at the new Valley Junction Interchange (shown on the south side of OR 18).
Local roadway elements:
- New frontage road, east of Valley Junction
Build a new frontage road from Valley Junction to Fort Hill Road so that people can get to businesses and homes on the north side of OR 18. This will use a portion of the existing OR 18 roadway. - New frontage road, west of Valley Junction
Build a new frontage road from OR 22 to the west end of the project area so that people can get to businesses and homes on the north side of OR 18. - New backage road
Build a new backage road from Rowell Creek Road west to the Yamhill River so that people can get to businesses and homes on the south of OR 18. - New north to south Rowell Creek Road
Build a new local street between the frontage road, east of Valley Junction, with the new backage road using the undercrossing below OR 18.
You can click on the text below to learn how all local users will get around after the preferred concept is built.
The project Steering Committee and the community helped us develop ideas to make it easier to drive around the area without using OR 18. In addition, we considered environmental and right of way impacts as well as the cost of the potential improvements while working on our design concept. This resulted in the following local access features.
The concept:
- Redirects traffic from Grand Ronde Road to OR 22.
- Provides route options away from OR 18 since access off and onto OR 18 will be limited to the new interchange.
- Enhances movement through the area for residents and for those visiting businesses, including the casino.
To the right are two maps that show how drivers can get around the area without going on OR 18 (shown in purple lines), as well as the areas where access onto the highways will be removed (shown in dark blue and orange lines).
Preferred OR 18 access concept
(click on the image to enlarge)
Existing elements
Transit
Currently, there are four separate public transit providers and four fixed routes – Yamhill County Transit (Line 22), Tillamook County Transportation District (Lines 60X and 70X), Caravan Airport Shuttle and Cherriots (Line 2X). These services all have stops at Spirit Mountain Casino and all, except for Cherriots, stop at the Grand Ronde Community Center.
Bicycle and pedestrian
Bicycle and pedestrian elements in the project area consist mostly of paved shoulders. There aren't consistent sidewalks. Currently, they are:
- Along the east side of Grand Ronde Road between OR 18 and OR 22.
- At specific segments on the west side of Grand Ronde Road.
- On the north and south approaches of Grand Ronde Road at OR 18.
Cyclists who ride on OR 18 and OR 22 are typically more experienced and familiar with high stress recreational riding situations. More casual riders that require lower stress situations would need facilities with greater separation, like a multiuse path, to feel comfortable riding on OR 18 and OR 22.
Proposed changes
The new preferred concept includes:
- Replacing existing 4’ shoulders with 10’ shoulders on OR 18.
- Replacing 1-3’ shoulders with 8’ shoulders on OR 22.
- Adding new frontage and backage roads with bike lanes.
Please note, there are no new sidewalks included as part of this project.
Preferred OR 22 access concept
(click on the image to enlarge)
Example OR 18 expressway cross section
(click on the image to enlarge)
Example OR 22, frontage road and backage road cross section
(click on the image to enlarge)
We want your feedback
Your feedback and questions are an important part of our process. They help us make sure that we create a concept that works for everyone! Please share your thoughts with us by filling out the survey below.
Mark your calendar!
Sign up to attend our virtual event on September 9 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. At this event, you'll have the opportunity to hear from the project team, ask questions and learn more about the preferred design concept.
Stay connected
You can always learn more about the project, find answers to your questions and stay connected by visiting the project webpage.
If you have not already, sign up to receive future updates about this project.
If you have additional questions, please contact:
Brennan Burbank
ODOT Project Manager
503-986-6922
brennan.s.burbank@odot.state.or.us