I-5 off-ramp at Drain opens ahead of schedule, June 30

The southbound Interstate 5 off-ramp at Exit 162 (Oregon 38 junction/Drain) is now open following a 12-day closure to replace damaged concrete in the adjacent travel lane.  The ramp, which is used by southbound I-5 motorists heading to Reedsport and the southern Oregon coast, had originally been scheduled to be closed 33 days, from June 16 to July 18.  However, following long traffic delays on Memorial Day weekend, ODOT and prime contractor Oregon Mainline Paving have been working on an expedited schedule to ensure traffic moves more quickly through the seven-mile work zone on the Independence Day weekend.  ODOT and Oregon Mainline Paving have been working around the clock the last five weeks, revising the staging plans and bringing in extra workers to speed up the pace of construction.  Some additional closures of the Exit 162 and Exit 163 (Curtin) ramps may be necessary next month to complete guardrail and paving work. These closures will be scheduled at night, when there is less traffic on the road.  The ramp closure is part of the $18.5 million I-5 Martin Creek-Curtin Paving project, which will repair or replace damaged concrete in several areas of I-5 between Cottage Grove and Drain.