Skip to main content

Oregon State Flag An official website of the State of Oregon »

Project-Details







Oregon 42 and U.S. 101 Passing Lanes Study

Planning Phase

Region 3: Southwestern Oregon (Coos, Curry, Douglas)


​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​This planning study will identify additional passing opportunities along Oregon 42 and U.S. 101 in Coos, Curry and Douglas Counties. It will recommend a set of improvements to assist travelers in passing safely and will prioritize the projects for future funding. ​


Impacts

Key Milestones

​Purpose, Objectives and Evaluation Criteria – August 2023
Review of Existing Inventory and Conditions – November 2023
Existing and Future Transportation Analysis – June 2024
Development of Conceptual Improvements – February 2025
Online Open House – April 2025
Final Oregon 42 and U.S. 101 Passing Lanes Study – June 2025

Schedule

​Planning work will occur between February 2023 and June 2025.

Details

About

This project will identify roadway improvements to help motorists pass safely along Oregon 42 (Coos Bay-Roseburg Highway) and U.S. 101 (Oregon Coast Highway). The project may include additional passing lanes and slow-moving vehicle turn-outs where feasible.

Oregon 42 has limited passing opportunities, particularly between Myrtle Point and Camas Valley, which can slow overall travel times. In addition, current passing lanes through this corridor section do not meet ODOT's Highway Design Manual​ recommendations. Additional passing lanes would improve freight movement through the corridor and help reduce overall travel times. 

U.S. 101 sees many recreational vehicles during summer. In addition, some small coastal communities have reduced travel lanes to slow speeds and added sidewalks and bicycle lanes to improve active transportation safety. Because of these necessary improvements, vehicle passing opportunities must now be outside incorporated communities.

This project will include local agencies in deciding the appropriate location for passing opportunities and identifying impacts associated with each location. In addition, the project will result in high-level mitigation strategies and planning-level cost estimates for passing improvements and include site-specific public outreach and input opportunities.​

Location

OR 42 |

​This study will focus on two highways, Oregon 42 (Coos Bay-Roseburg Highway) and U.S. 101 (Oregon Coast Highway), in Coos, Curry and Douglas counties. The study will not involve locations in cities or unincorporated communities.

 

Cost and Funding

​​Funding: $300,000 (Statewide Planning and Research funds)

Contractor

​DKS Associates (Portland, Oregon)

Additional Information

​​Technical Memo No. 1 (Purpose and Objectives): Oregon 42 and U.S. 101 are important roadways for freight, tourism and emergency management. The highways experience a lot of traffic with few opportunities to pass vehicles safely. This memo describes the purpose, need, goals and objectives of the study.

Technical Memo No. 2 (Evaluation and Prioritization): Evaluation criteria will be used to determine potential passing lane locations. This memo describes in detail what those criteria will be.

Technical Memo No. 3 (Agency Report): This memo describes what a passing lane consists of, standards that apply, and other conditions present in the study area.

Technical Memo No. 4​​ (Geotechnical Report ): This memorandum provides a preliminary geological assessment of the passing lane study areas to assist the project team with identifying areas that may be feasible for further passing lanes.

Technical Memo No. 5​​ (Operational Analysis, Existing Conditions): This memorandum (and supporting maps) present the results of existing year transportation conditions, including operations and safety. 

Technical Memo No. ​6 (Future Year Traffic Operations): This memorandum documents the transportation analysis for future year 2042 and identifies anticipated deficiencies within the study area.

Technical Memo No. 7 (Corridor Concepts): This memorandum summarizes the initial feasibility screening for potential passing lanes segments.

Presentation (Concepts Work session): These slides highlight potential passing lanes segments for further analysis.


* * * 

Project updates: Visit our GovDelivery page to sign up for project e-mail updates​.


Contacts & Media

Project map

Project Contacts

ODOT Senior Planner
Tom Guevara, Jr.
Email
Thomas.Guevara@odot.oregon.gov
Phone
541-957-3692

Public Information Officer
Dan Latham
Email
Dan.Latham@odot.oregon.gov
Phone
541-817-5200

Get Project Alerts

Sign up for the newsletter! ODOT Facebook

Last Updated

2/20/2025 4:24 PM

Project Number

R3-P008

Project Documents

Related documents to this project
R3-Pass-OR42US101-MAP.jpgMap of project study area (June 2023)
R3-Pass-OR42US101_TechMemo1.pdfTechnical Memo No. 1: Purposes and Objectives (April 1, 2024)
R3-Pass-OR42US101_TechMemo2.pdfTechnical Memo No. 2: Evaluation and Prioritization (April 1, 2024)
R3-Pass-OR42US101_TechMemo3.pdfTechnical Memo No. 3: Agency Report (April 1, 2024)
R3-Pass-OR42US101_TechMemo4.pdfTechnical Memo No. 4: Geotechnical Report (April 29, 2024)
R3-Pass-OR42US101_TechMemo5.pdfTechnical Memo No. 5: Operational Analysis, Existing Conditions (May 24, 2024)
R3-Pass-OR42US101_TechMemo5-Maps.pdfTechnical Memo No. 5: Operational Analysis, Maps (May 24, 2024)
R3-Pass-OR42US101_TechMemo6.pdfTechnical Memo No. 6: Future Year Traffic Operations (July 12, 2024)
R3-Pass-OR42US101_Worksession-Nov2024.pdfPresentation: Concepts Worksession (Nov. 25, 2024)
R3-Pass-OR42US101_TechMemo7.pdfTechnical Memo No. 7: Corridor Concepts (March 10, 2025)