A busy stretch of Interstate 105 will shrink to a single lane starting Monday as workers continue major construction on the freeway between Delta Highway and Seventh Avenue.

On Monday, crews will close two of the three westbound lanes of I-105 approaching the Sixth Avenue offramp, although the ramps onto Sixth Avenue and Seventh Avenue/Jefferson Street will remain open.

The Sixth Avenue onramp to eastbound I-105 that has been closed for about the last month will reopen June 15. There will be periodic lane closures after the ramp reopens.

Then, starting June 24, crews will close the Sixth Avenue offramp for about four weeks and the lane closures will continue. The Seventh/Jefferson offramp will remain open with a lane closed.

All lanes and ramps will be open during the Lane County Fair from July 24-28.

"It's going to be tight for a while," ODOT spokeswoman Angela Beers Seydel said.

Lane closures on westbound I-105 will continue into August but they won't be as restrictive, she said.

State transportation officials note there likely will be increased tie-ups, especially during the evening commute hours, on I-105 as well as Country Club and Coburg roads and through the Ferry Street Bridge area.

The ramp and lane closures are needed as crews continue the two-year, $18 million project to modernize the aging stretch of I-105, which connects downtown Eugene with Interstate 5 and Springfield.

The ramp closures were slated to begin in March but there was a two-month delay as ODOT and the contractor retooled the ramp closure schedule to minimize traffic delays as much as possible. The corridor carries an average of 60,000 vehicles daily.

The construction work involves installing new bridge rail, joints and lights, making other repairs, completing a seismic retrofit, and paving the roadway.



Once the ramp upgrades are complete this fall, crews will shift to the last phase of the two-year, $18 million project to upgrade the Willamette River bridge.

Officials urge motorists to visit www.tripcheck.com to check local travel conditions and give yourself extra time, slow down and keep focused on the road.

Follow Christian Hill on Twitter @RGchill. Email christian.hill@registerguard.com.