Project to replace the Bear Creek Bridge begins

Work begins on the Bear Creek (Wallowa River) Bridge today. This is a three-year project to replace the deteriorating bridge. ODOT will also:

• Realign highway to improve the curve.
• Widen the new bridge to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety.
• Build the new bridge to withstand seismic activity.

For a couple of weeks starting March 14, you will see crews removing vegetation along the river in preparation for construction of the new bridge and highway realignment.

What you can expect during construction

From March through November 2022, you can expect:

• Intermittent flaggers.
• Delays up to 20 minutes.
• Crews are scheduled to work Monday through Friday.

Project schedule

Traffic will remain on the existing bridge while the new bridge is constructed.

This three-year project is scheduled for completion at the end of October 2024.