Recent heavy rainfall along the Oregon Coast has caused the ground to shift between Newport and Depoe Bay. This has caused sunken grades along the highway, and crews are implementing a temporary reduced speed limit on U.S. 101. Travelers using U.S. 101 between Newport and Depoe Bay will notice a reduced speed limit between milepost 133 and 134. The speed will be lowered by 20 mph, making the speed limit through this area 35 mph instead of 55 mph.
Over the past few weeks, increased rainfall has led to ground shifting beneath U.S. 101, particularly in the Beverly Beach area. Despite ongoing efforts by work crews to address the issue, the road's condition is changing faster than repairs can be made. As a temporary solution, ODOT applied gravel to the impacted section of the road to make it more stable. Since the ground is still moving, crews will need to wait for drier conditions before we continue to repair the road. This speed reduction is essential for the safety of drivers and work crews.
  When traveling through this newly graveled area:
Stay Alert: Be vigilant for changing road conditions.
Reduce Speed: Adhere to the new 35 mph speed limit.
Exercise Caution: Watch for work crews and navigate the area carefully.
ODOT decided to lower the speed limit to provide drivers with time to adapt to the altered road conditions. They will continue to monitor the situation. For further information on landslides, please visit our Unstoppable Slopes, Landslides, Debris Flows, and Rockfall webpage.
