Merkley, Wyden, Hoyle: $30 Million Coming to Rural Lane County for Critical Transportation Project

Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley, Ron Wyden, and U.S. Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04) announced today that the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is receiving $30,259,024 in federal funding for the OR 126's Huston Road to Lakeside Drive Project in rural Lane County.

The project will transform infrastructure along a 1.9-mile road segment on OR 126 near the communities of Veneta and Elmira. ODOT secured these funds through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program, established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support game-changing rural infrastructure projects nationwide.

"The Huston Road to Lakeside Drive Project is a big deal for Oregonians in rural Lane County to help them get where they need to go safely and efficiently," said Merkley. "This latest federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law brings us closer than ever to realizing the promise of improved safety, mobility, and economic competitiveness for all communities across America. I'll keep pushing to bring similar transportation funds from this historic law to communities in all of Oregon's 36 counties."

"Rural Oregonians must have quality and dependable roads, and this federal investment will help achieve those goals along this nearly two-mile stretch of OR 126," said Wyden. "Delivering real results just like these is why I worked to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and I'll keep pressing to make sure this historic law keeps delivering similar infrastructure wins that make our entire state an even better place to live and work."

"This funding is critical to improve the safety of OR 126 and ensure our infrastructure remains dependable for Oregonians," said Hoyle. "I am grateful to state and local partners who have been working for a long time for these vital infrastructure investments. I'm excited to see work finally begin."

"ODOT is committed to making Oregon's transportation system safer and because of this significant support from the federal government, it soon will be. Through the construction of new roundabouts, transit stops, turn lanes, and separated shared-use paths, this stretch of OR 126 will be safer for all users. I want to thank Senators Merkley and Wyden, Representative Hoyle, and the rest of Oregon's federal delegation and our federal partners for helping ODOT make Oregon safer for everyone," said ODOT Director Kris Strickler.

The project will construct dual-lane roundabouts along OR 126 at Huston Road and Ellmaker Road and widen the road between these intersections from two to four lanes. The project will construct wider shoulders and a separated shared-use path along the project limits, a left-turn lane at Lakeside Drive, and railroad crossing improvements at the Huston Road intersection.

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