This summer, the Oregon Department of Transportation is ramping up bridge and highway construction on Interstate 5. You've probably already noticed the work zones in the Salem area, near Eugene and throughout southern Oregon. Many of these projects are being funded by the Oregon Transportation Investment Act.
The intent of the Oregon Transportation Investment Act is to make improvements that will keep people, goods and services moving safely and effectively by modernizing our most important transportation corridors. The act is helping to repair and replace bridges, widen lanes and perform essential maintenance throughout the state.
The I-5 corridor is Oregon's central transportation artery. Serving commerce, commuters, tourists and our economy, a smooth-functioning I-5 is critical to our collective quality of life. Since it was built in the 1950s, I-5's freight volume has increased, the dimensions and weights of loads have grown and an overall greater volume of traffic puts more pressure on the system every day. Our work will strengthen this vital roadway and help maintain unrestricted routes for trucks, tourists and travelers.
Simply put, making improvements to I-5 is not only an investment in Oregon's transportation infrastructure, it is an investment in the economic health of Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.
The transportation department's mobility engineers have created different approaches to help keep traffic moving during these upgrades. By estimating possible delays in work zones and coordinating timelines for multiple projects, we are working to keep delays to a minimum. Whenever possible, construction will be scheduled for off-peak or night hours to further maintain traffic flow.
Your help is needed to make these efforts truly successful. Major road construction, even with state-of-the-art traffic 
planning, can cause delays. We are asking you to be prepared for intermittent disruptions. Most important, we urge you to slow down in work zones and be patient.
To help you plan your trips and avoid delays, the transportation department maintains two sources of up-to-date information: TripCheck.com and 5-1-1. TripCheck.com provides detailed information on construction projects, including anticipated delay times, as well as incident, weather and other conditions affecting your trip. You can get the same information by dialing 5-1-1.
Oregonians have always understood the importance of a strong transportation system in supporting a healthy economy. Oregon was the first state on the West Coast to complete I-5 construction from border to border, and we are now leading the way in improving this key essential highway. It took the combined efforts of the people from public and private sectors to build our historic interstate — now that same partnership is working together to rebuild it for a safer, stronger future.
Matt Garrett is director of the Oregon Department of Transportation.
