Mayor Urges ODOT to Immediately Address Gridlocked Traffic in West Linn

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                        

June 8, 2023                                                               

Mayor Urges ODOT to Immediately Address Gridlocked Traffic in West Linn

WEST LINN, OR – June 8, 2023 – Mayor Bialostosky sent a letter to the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) today requesting immediate action to relieve daily traffic congestion from ODOT’s closure of the I-205 northbound on-ramp from southbound Highway 43. The on-ramp is scheduled to be closed through June 26 for construction. A signed detour route directs southbound traffic through Exit 6 (10th Street), but congestion became a problem the very first day of the month-long closure, creating serious safety and livability concerns.

In the letter, Mayor Bialostosky expresses his belief that ODOT’s planned detour is “not working.” He explains, “Residents have been unable to get to appointments and have been delayed returning home, commute times have been dramatically increased, and our youth have been unable to get to recreational activities and practices. […] In the event of an emergency, I am extremely concerned that response times from our emergency service providers will be delayed. This is not okay.”

The mayor supports the measures city staff are asking of ODOT, including adjustments to signal timing and ramp meters; adding flaggers at critically impacted intersections; using traffic control measures to deter illegal U-turns; sharing ODOT’s traffic management plan with the city; bringing in state police to assist with traffic control; and establishing a hotline for residents to call with traffic-related issues.

Although Mayor Bialostosky recognizes the necessity of the construction and appreciates ODOT’s correspondence with city staff, he says better planning and partnership are needed. “Residents have been reaching out to the city, but as you know, the city does not have authority over the impacted streets under ODOT’s jurisdiction. […] I believe that this instance shows the precarious nature of our local street system when ODOT takes actions that West Linn has no control over.”

In the meantime, the West Linn Police Department (WLPD) is doing everything it can to ensure traffic safety. Residents can call the non-emergency dispatch line when witnessing drivers being unsafe, which will help WLPD identify ‘hot spots’ prone to traffic violations: (503) 635-0238.

Residents can reach out to ODOT directly by calling 1-888-ASK-ODOT or filling out an online form at https://highway.odot.state.or.us/cf/comments/comments.cfm. Residents may also contact their state legislators at https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/FindYourLegislator/leg-search.html.

###