COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. — The Oregon Transportation Department is apologizing for an Interstate 5 highway construction snarl that backed up northbound Memorial Day traffic for at least 10 miles south of Cottage Grove.
The Register-Guard reports that Transportation Department spokesman Dan Latham says highway officials will “do whatever is necessary to prevent this from happening again,” but he also notes that construction will still be underway in the area on the July 4 weekend.
Latham says the department will encourage drivers to use alternate routes during the next holiday weekend.
Some of Monday’s delays lasted more than two hours. The Transportation Department had estimated Memorial weekend delays in the area would be about 20 minutes.
Lane restrictions in the area are required for roadway rebuilding.
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