Drivers on northbound I-5 in south Salem will hit rolling slowdowns and lane shifts Sunday night, Aug. 2, as ODOT crews move traffic back onto freshly paved lanes between Kuebler Boulevard and Delaney Road.

The overnight operation begins around 9 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2, and is expected to wrap by 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 3, according to an ODOT bulletin sent Thursday, July 30. Southbound I-5 will be unaffected through the work zone.

The shift marks a milestone in the $55.5 million Phase 1 project to widen southbound I-5 from two to three lanes between the Kuebler Boulevard interchange (Exit 252) and the Delaney Road interchange (Exit 248).

The project targets a stretch where 41 percent of collisions were rear-end crashes tied to congestion from slow-moving trucks climbing the hill south of Salem. Construction began in September 2024, with a contract completion date of March 4, 2027.

ODOT said the earlier southbound traffic shift, completed the night of July 23, went smoothly and the agency expects the northbound operation to go just as well.

What's next

After Sunday night's shift, crews will continue paving the northbound lanes, with additional lane closures as needed. Work will then focus on reconnecting the Commercial Street and Delaney Road on- and off-ramps, restoring construction areas, and completing final landscaping.

No specific dates for those steps have been announced.

The broader project also includes a new Battle Creek Road bridge, reconstruction of the Commercial Street bridge, sound walls on the west side of I-5, and a new roundabout at Battle Creek Road SE and Wiltsey Road SE.

Salem-based K&E Excavating Inc. holds the $38.3 million general contract.

A second phase to widen the northbound lanes is unfunded and has no planned start date.

Safety reminders

Fines double. Oregon law doubles fines in all work zones, whether workers and signs are present or not. ODOT urged drivers to slow down and watch for crews.

Travelers can check real-time conditions and traffic cameras at TripCheck.com before heading through the work zone. For project questions, contact ODOT Public Information Officer Mindy McCartt at 503-507-6045.