The State Highway 99W: Newberg and Dundee Bypass, Phase 1 project is located near the Oregon 99W corridor, where the highway passes through Newberg and Dundee in eastern Yamhill County. The project will provide an alternate route for local commuter and freight traffic around the congestion in Dundee and south Newberg, reducing the number of vehicles using Oregon 99W. The HB 2001 project is being accomplished by two separate projects: Newberg-Dundee Improvement Project #1 and OR18: Newberg-Dundee Bypass. The project is expected to construct a two-lane highway from Oregon 219, near Newberg, to Oregon 99W, southwest of Dundee.
The goal is to reduce traffic congestion and improve regional and local transportation along the Oregon 99W corridor in the Newberg and Dundee area.
Oregon 99W serves as the “main street” for both Newberg and Dundee. It also connects the cities to the Portland Metropolitan Area, McMinnville and the Oregon Coast. Because this highway is the most direct route between the Willamette Valley and coastal communities, tourist traffic has steadily increased. Weekday commuters also use the highway to travel between Yamhill County and the Portland Metropolitan Area.
All of these demands combine to create severe congestion; lines of vehicles often stretch for over a mile in both directions. Congestion and travel delays have reached unacceptable levels for those who live, work in or travel through Newberg, Dundee and the surrounding areas. This project will alleviate congestion by adding highway capacity.
The Chehalem Valley Chamber along with many other stakeholders throughout Yamhill County has actively lobbied at the State and Federal level. Their combined efforts have resulted in the 192 million dollar earmark in HB 2001. In addition the project has received several million dollars through the support of our federal delegation. For more information and maps of the project visit: http://oregonjta.org/region2/?p=highway99w
