Oct 29 2025 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor
Construction and road work has begun throughout main roads in Monmouth and Independence. Here’s what students and residents in the area should expect from the construction phase and the outcome.
While construction lasts, crews will be working along Main Street, Monmouth Street and South Main Street. Residents should expect to see construction crews at work Monday through Thursday during normal business hours, with occasional work on Fridays and at night when needed. As of Oct. 29, only shoulder closures have occurred, which doesn’t change the flow of traffic, but residents should be prepared for possible lane closures and shifts as needed. In that case, drivers will see flaggers directing traffic. Additionally, residents should expect some loud noise at times, as construction workers are using loud machinery. The Oregon Department of Transportation asks that residents be aware during this time, and that they slow down and watch for workers.
The reasoning behind the construction is to add curb ramps along Monmouth and Independence sidewalks to meet current ADA accessibility standards. Workers are adding and remodeling 150 ramps in the area. These new curb ramps will make it easier for people to transition from the road to the curb, and vice versa, while walking around town. Accommodations such as these will help those who have trouble stepping up and down from the sidewalk, as well as wheelchair users. The changes can additionally help people with strollers, walkers, hand carts and bikes.
Residents may notice that not all ramps are being built on the same timeline. This is because workers must review each corner where a ramp will be placed and evaluate it to see if it is ready or needs modification before a ramp can be built. Additionally, not all intersections and locations are the same. Some areas are construction-ready, while some areas have things to plan around, like fire hydrants, utility boxes and utility poles. The construction-ready intersections are being worked on first, while others will be completed at a later date as ramps are designed around the intersections’ barriers.
These construction ramps are part of a larger project throughout Astoria, Corvallis, Cottage Grove, Newberg, Salem, Keizer and Springfield, in addition to Monmouth and Independence. Design and construction for these changes totals $1.56 million. Residents can check an interactive map provided by the Oregon Department of Transportation here to see which areas are currently under construction.
The work being done locally is part of a larger project throughout the Willamette Valley and North Coast to bring over 2,300 curb ramps to ADA standards. The Oregon Department of Transportation is working hard to bring accessibility to cities and towns like Monmouth and Independence that will benefit everyone.
Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu
