Construction causing delays on Bear Camp Road – Medford News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2022-06-01

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Construction causing delays on Bear Camp Road By Vickie Aldous Updated: Jun 01, 2022 01:18 PM A A Drivers should expect delays of up to 45 minutes due to construction on Bear Camp Road. The remote mountain road between Galice and Gold Beach connects the Rogue Valley to the Oregon Coast. It’s also frequently used as a shuttle route for people floating the lower Rogue River. To avoid construction delays and detours, motor homes, trailers and passenger cars should use Highway 199 and Highway 101 to get from the Rogue Valley to the coast. Bear Camp Road is never recommended for motor homes or trailers, the Forest Service said. The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest started repair work on Bear Camp Road in 2021. After a winter break, road stabilization and repair work began Tuesday and will continue through June 8 depending on weather. Drivers should plan for up to 45-minute delays to allow time for pavement to cool and for large equipment to work on the narrow road corridor, the Forest Service said. The Agness Company started on the east side of Bear Camp Road at milepost 14.5. Contractors will complete the work from east to west, with flaggers on site to aid in traffic control, the Forest Service said. A second project to chip seal the road with asphalt and gravel between Burnt Ridge Road and Agness Road starts June 20 and will go through June 30. That section of the road will be closed except on weekends. Bear Camp Road will reopen to traffic Friday afternoons and close again at 7 a.m. the following Monday. Signs will be posted to indicate a 25 mph construction zone speed limit, and “Loose Rock” signs also will be posted to help prevent vehicles from damaging the newly placed chip seal, the Forest Service said. During chip seal operations, traffic will be detoured via Burnt Ridge Road, also known as Forest Service Road 2308, which is a gravel road. The Forest Service encouraged people to drive with added caution in the area of construction, knowing there will be equipment and people in the area, and with the expectation that road surfaces may be different than expected. The work is funded by the Great American Outdoors Act, a federal bill to address the growing backlog of deferred maintenance on Forest Service land. Reach Mail Tribune reporter Vickie Aldous at 541-776-4486 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @VickieAldous.