Linn County Road Department

05/15/2026

🚧 McDowell Creek Drive Paving Work

Road crews have begun asphalt repair work on portions of McDowell Creek Drive between the lower McDowell Creek park area up to the end of pavement near Camp Tadmor.

The current work includes leveling and overlay repairs designed to improve the driving surface and help preserve previous repair work in the area.

Potential future larger-scale improvements on McDowell Creek Drive are being evaluated for a federal grant funding opportunity. Because grant applications and awards can take time, these interim repairs are being completed now to help maintain roadway conditions in the meantime.

While Linn County is optimistic about future funding opportunities, grant awards are not guaranteed.

Drivers should expect periodic delays, flaggers, and construction activity during paving operations.

For additional project information:
https://www.linncountyor.gov/roads/page/current-projects

For up-to-date road closure information:
https://www.linncountyor.gov/roads/page/road-closures-and-notices

05/15/2026

✅ Tennessee Road Bridge Reopened Ahead of Schedule

Repairs to the bridge over Marks Slough on Tennessee Road have been completed, and the bridge reopened to two lanes of traffic late Thursday afternoon.

Thank you to our crews for their work completing the repairs safely and efficiently, and thank you to the public for your patience during the closure.

🔗 View current road closures and updates:
https://www.linncountyor.gov/roads/page/road-closures-and-notices

05/12/2026

🔔☎️ Update 12pm - Phones are currently working. We appreciate your patience!

We are currently experiencing issues with our phone system. If you need to contact us, please email us at [email protected] or feel free to stop by our office in person.

We apologize for any inconvenience and are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

05/07/2026

🎥 Linn County Road Department in the Spotlight

KVAL News recently visited Linn County to feature Oregon’s historic covered bridges as part of their Amazing America series. They interviewed Kevin Groom, a Senior Engineer with the Linn County Road Department, who shares insight throughout the story on the history, preservation, and ongoing maintenance of these iconic structures.

Covered bridges are more than just landmarks — they’re an important part of our local history, and we’re proud of the work our staff does to help preserve them for future generations.

From bridge preservation to transportation improvements, Linn County Road Department staff work on projects that help maintain and improve roads, bridges and infrastructure throughout the county every day.

🎬 Watch the story here:
https://kval.com/news/local/amazing-america-oregons-covered-bridges-endure-as-local-landmarks

👉 Learn more about Linn County Road Department careers and opportunities:
https://www.linncountyor.gov/roads/page/road-department-job-openings

Covered bridges have long been an Oregon staple, spanning waterways across the state and serving as local landmarks with deep roots in the region’s history.

05/04/2026

🚧 Tennessee Road Bridge Closure - Starting May 11

Repairs to the bridge over Marks Slough on Tennessee Road will begin Monday, May 11, 2026.

The bridge will be CLOSED to all traffic during construction. Work is expected to take about 2 weeks.

Last year, traffic was shifted to one lane after inspections identified areas needing repair.
Crews will now complete structural repairs to restore the bridge to full two-lane traffic.

👉️ Plan ahead and use alternate routes.

🔗 To see the full list of bridge repairs planned in 2026:
https://www.linncountyor.gov/media/54291

🔗 View current road closures and updates:
https://www.linncountyor.gov/roads/page/road-closures-and-notices

04/29/2026

🚧 As Work Zone Awareness Month comes to a close, we want to thank our Linn County road crews for the work they do every day to keep our roads safe and our communities connected.

From bridge repairs and gravel road maintenance to storm response and emergency callouts, these crews are out in all conditions working to keep Linn County moving.

Behind every safety vest is a real person with family and friends waiting for them at home.

Please continue to slow down, stay alert, and respect work zones all year long.

Work Zone Awareness Month may be ending, but safety is always in season. 👷🚧

04/22/2026

🚧 This week our crews are out on Whiskey Butte Drive near Sweet Home, performing gravel road augmentation and stabilization work.

Temporary closures and traffic control measures help provide a safer work area for both our crews and the traveling public while maintenance is underway.

As we continue recognizing Work Zone Awareness Month, please slow down, stay alert, and respect all posted signs and closures.

Thank you for helping keep our crews safe while they work to maintain Linn County roads. 🚧

For closure details, please visit our Road Closure page: https://www.linncountyor.gov/roads/page/road-closures-and-notices

04/14/2026

📱🚫 In a work zone, a quick glance at your phone can have life-changing consequences.

Driver distraction is one of the leading contributors to serious crashes in work zones.

Our crews are working just feet from moving traffic every day across Linn County.

Please put your phone down, slow down, and stay focused when approaching road work. Remember, traffic fines may be doubled in active work zones.

Everyone deserves to get home safely - both you and the crews working to keep our roads safe and open. 🚧

04/08/2026

🚧 Work Zone Awareness Month continues 🚧

Our crews do more than maintain roads and bridges — they are husbands, wives, parents, friends, and neighbors who deserve to make it home safely every day.

Every cone, sign, and road closure is there to help protect real people working just feet from traffic.

Please slow down, stay alert, and put your phone down in work zones.

Help us keep Linn County road workers safe. 👷‍♂️🚧

04/06/2026

It’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

Distracted driving continues to be a deadly epidemic on our roads, with cell phone use still the most common culprit. But it’s not just phones! Eating behind the wheel, fiddling with the radio or GPS, turning around to deal with the kids in the backseat, etc. These everyday distractions can have tragic consequences.

In 2025, an estimated 3,240 people lost their lives in crashes involving distracted drivers across the United States. That’s far too many preventable deaths.

Here are a few simple tips to help you stay focused and safe on the road:

• Need to send a text or make a call? Pull over and park in a safe spot first. Or use voice-to-text if your vehicle or phone supports it, even an embarrassing autocorrect is better than a crash.
• Have passengers? Make one of them your “designated texter” to handle calls and messages. Kids often love the “important job” of using mom or dad’s phone responsibly.
• Can’t resist checking your phone? Put it away in the glove box or backseat until you reach your destination. Out of sight, out of mind.

Distracted driving isn’t just dangerous, it’s expensive. In Oregon, the first citation for using a mobile electronic device while driving starts at around $265. A third offense within 10 years can escalate to a Class B misdemeanor, with fines up to $2,500 and the possibility of up to 6 months in jail.

No text, social media scroll, or game high score is worth risking your life, someone else’s, or a hefty ticket.

This month (and every month), keep your eyes on the road and your mind on driving. Make it home safe, every single time.