The Oregon Department of Transportation will begin paving operations next week along the La Grande-Union Highway.

Work on Highway 203 will take place between the Interstate 84 Union Interchange (Exit 265) near the Flying J Truck Stop and the town of Union. McCafferty-Whittle Construction of Gladstone is the contractor.

Motorists can expect up to 20-minute delays as flaggers and pilot cars direct traffic through the work zones between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Travelers are reminded to slow down and drive with extra caution through all road construction sites.

Activities will begin July 5 with the placement of shoulder rock along sections of the highway. Cold mix paving is expected to begin Friday and continue for about two weeks, including weekends.

Travelers commuting between La Grande and Union are advised to take alternate routes if possible, such as the Cove Highway, during the road work.

About two weeks after the cold mix paving is completed, the contractor will return to construct a chip seal over the new pavement surface.

The chip seal work will last about two or three days. The extra layer of rock chips and emulsified oil will help extend the useful life of the new pavement surface.

The pavement work is part of a $4.7 million, multi-highway project in Union and Baker counties.

Additional work in the contract includes the following:

? Bridge repairs along the La Grande-Union Highway. Repairs have begun and are expected to be completed by the end of August.

? Pavement overlay along Highway 30 between I-84 Exit 259 and the La Grande west city limits. Paving will begin in September and be completed by Oct. 31.

? Pavement overlay and new turn lanes along Highway 30 between the La Grande east city limits and the I-84 Union Interchange (Exit 265).

Turn lanes at Gekeler Lane and the Flying J Truck Stop are already under construction. Pavement overlay work is expected to begin in September and be completed by Oct. 31.

? Chip seal application along Highway 30 and Highway 237 between Telocaset and Baker City. The chip seal project is under way and is expected to be completed by mid-July. Sections of this route between North Powder and Haines also received a pavement overlay last month.

A separate highway project in the area, starting July 17, will be constructed by ODOT maintenance crews along the Medical Springs Highway between Catherine Creek State Park and Baker City.

Work will consist of a chip seal operation for approximately two weeks.

Motorists can expect flaggers and pilot cars during daytime construction and loose gravel on the road day and night.