Oregon Department of Transportation officials announced on Sept. 25, 2026, that the $55.5 million Interstate 5 widening project in south Salem has wrapped up ahead of schedule and approximately $1 million under budget. The infrastructure upgrade added a third southbound lane between Kuebler Road and Delaney Boulevard to alleviate a persistent freight bottleneck, while also delivering bridge replacements, updated ramps, new soundwalls, and a roundabout funded by Marion County.
Southbound I-5 Project Delivers Savings Amid Agency Scrutiny
The I-5 Kuebler Boulevard to Delaney Road project officially reached its dedication milestone on Sept. 25, 2026, following construction that kicked off in 2024. Anna Henson, ODOT region 3 area manager, told project staff and contractors that completing the major undertaking both on time and under budget is a rare achievement in modern infrastructure development. The completion provides a timely positive milestone for an agency facing intense public scrutiny over ballooning price tags on larger megaprojects and long-term financial hurdles.
Savannah Crawford, ODOT region 2 manager, explained that planners prioritized the southbound lanes because the stretch takes drivers up a hill, which historically generated heavy freight congestion. The downhill grade heading northbound experiences less severe slowdowns, leading planners to focus initial resources on the uphill bottleneck.
Engineering Collaboration and Project Scope
Contractors and agency partners highlighted close collaboration as a primary driver behind the project’s early finish. Brandon Young of K&E Excavating and Shon Hearn of David Evans & Associates credited construction crews for working through difficult hours and tight timelines to hit their targets. Young emphasized that the credit belongs to the workers building highways and bridges during late nights and weekends.
Originally slated to run into spring 2027, construction wrapped up its major phases ahead of schedule, with the updated southbound lanes opening to motorists in July. Although the dedication ceremony took place in late September, drivers using the corridor will continue to encounter lower speed limits and construction cones while crews finish minor cleanup tasks.
Future Northbound Expansion Lacks Funding
While the southbound improvements are complete, plans to widen the northbound lanes remain on hold. ODOT officials confirmed that the northbound phase currently lacks dedicated funding and has not been scheduled on the agency’s timeline. The current project successfully integrated several distinct municipal upgrades, including updated off-ramps, new soundwalls, repaving across both directions of I-5, and a roundabout at Battle Creek Road and Wiltsey Street built with financial backing from Marion County.
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