ODOT finishes I-84 striping project near La Grande and Huntington

Fresh striping is now in place on key stretches of Interstate 84 west of La Grande and near Huntington, giving drivers wider white lane lines meant to improve visibility, lane guidance and nighttime confidence on one of Eastern Oregon’s busiest travel corridors. The Oregon Department of Transportation said the work is complete, with no traffic impacts remaining, after crews replaced pavement markings worn down by weather and heavy use.

The finished project covered three sections of I-84: mileposts 249 to 259 in Union County, from Exit 248 at Spring Creek Road to U.S. 30 at Exit 259; mileposts 270 to 274 in Union County, through Ladd Canyon from about a mile west of Exit 270 at Ladd Creek Road to Exit 273 at Frontage Road; and mileposts 331 to 346 in Baker County, from Exit 330 at Cement Plant Road and Plano Road to Exit 345 at Lime and U.S. 30 Business in Huntington. ODOT said the contractor was Hicks Striping & Curbing, LLC of Salem, and the estimated cost through construction was $2.1 million.

For Union County, the most noticeable change is in Grande Ronde Canyon west of La Grande, where clearer lane markings matter when weather shifts fast and visibility drops. Similar striping work was completed in Burnt River Canyon west of Huntington, another stretch where drivers depend on strong pavement markings to stay centered and oriented through changing terrain and traffic conditions.

ODOT’s broader Region 5 materials explain why even a striping job carries real weight in eastern Oregon. The region spans seven counties and depends on I-84 and I-82 for freight movement, with no good alternatives when a crash, closure or weather event disrupts traffic. Wind, wildfires, flooding, landslides and snow all complicate travel, and winter maintenance is needed for six months out of the year.

ODOT also says snowplows and deicer chemicals fade road markings faster in eastern Oregon, which makes refreshed lines a safety measure as much as a maintenance task. Travelers moving between La Grande, Huntington and the surrounding communities can use TripCheck and 511 for road and weather updates, but on I-84 itself the immediate takeaway is simpler: the striping is done, and the corridor now has clearer guidance for the freight trucks, commuters and local trips that keep Union County connected.