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Lincoln County Commissioner Don Lindley remembers when there were high hopes that U.S. Route 20 would be repaired.

That time was in 2005, when a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to commence the U.S. Route 20-Pioneer Mountain to Eddyville project. It was expected to increase safety along a 10-mile stretch of two-lane highway between Philomath and Newport.

U.S. Route 20 project time line

2005 鈥� The Oregon Department of Transportation awards a $140 million contract to Yaquina River Constructors, a subsidiary of California-based Granite Construction.

2007 鈥� During construction, numerous landslides at critical sections are discovered. As a result, construction is put on hold for almost a year. When construction resumes in 2008, ODOT estimates the new project cost at $177 million.

2012 鈥� After discovering that two bridges on the route are out of plumb as a result of more landslides, ODOT issues YRC a notice of default and gives it 10 days to work out a solution to repair the bridges and get the project back on track. ODOT now estimates the project cost at more than $200 million.

鈥淚 was looking at a photograph for the ground-breaking recently, and I just remember thinking how excited I was that the project was going to be done in the next two or three years or so,鈥� Lindley said. 鈥淥bviously there has been some disappointment that the project hasn鈥檛 run as smoothly as predicted 鈥� we鈥檙e getting anxious.鈥�

Lindley鈥檚 excitement stemmed from the idea that straightening the notoriously curvy road would lead to a decrease in fatal accidents. He said that even 50 years ago he would see bumper stickers that read, 鈥淧ray for me, I drive Highway 20.鈥� He also said the finished highway project would have a huge effect on economic development in area, because it would create a better route for cargo truckers and tourists.

But now, there is no end in sight for the project.

鈥淢any (people), like myself, will drive by it several times a week and see portions that are basically done; but the fact is the troubled sections are not,鈥� Lindley said. 鈥淔olks around here are getting a little impatient that things haven鈥檛 worked out.鈥�

In mid-March, the issued a notice of default to Yaquina River Constructors, the project鈥檚 contractor, with 26 reasons why it had breached the design-build contract.

Notably, ODOT claimed that YRC, a subsidiary of California-based , failed to deliver two plumb bridges because of landslides that were discovered in 2007 and that YRC鈥檚 role as project designer requires it to foresee problems with construction. The notice gave YRC and Granite 10 days to devise a solution to address the reasons outlined or ODOT would potentially terminate the contract.

Granite Construction, which was the same day that ODOT issued default, immediately responded with a press release stating that it would 鈥渃ontest鈥� the notice. However, since the notice was given, ODOT has extended the 10-day deadline five times, most recently on Wednesday.

Neither ODOT nor Granite will comment on the matter, so it is uncertain where the two sides stand.

Now, with the project鈥檚 cost at $201 million 鈥� nearly $61 million more than the original proposed cost, it is unclear when construction will resume.

鈥淚t has been incredibly disappointing for us,鈥� said Michelle Amberg, city manager for Toledo, which is a few miles from the highway. 鈥淲e鈥檙e very rural and isolated, and to have that major artery that goes through to the (Willamette) Valley would be a fantastic thing.鈥�

Amberg said the new route would give Toledo鈥檚 fire department better access to rural communities nearby. She also said it would provide a more direct route out of the city for truckers serving the Georgia-Pacific paper mill, the area鈥檚 biggest employer. Presently, drivers of large trucks are prohibited from using U.S. Route 20 between Philomath and Newport because of sharp turns in that stretch.

鈥淚t would make a very large difference on the transportation dollars they spend for resources,鈥� Amberg said. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 good for the mill is good for Toledo.鈥�

While the project remains stagnant, Georgia-Pacific truckers and others often are forced to travel through residential neighborhoods in the area; the county has received numerous complaints from residents as a result.

But Lindley said that an improved route also would help commuters. A straighter road would encourage Corvallis residents, including Oregon State University students, to visit Newport, he said.

鈥淚f the road to the coast is straight and quick, more folks are likely to come here (and) take advantage of our beautiful environment and recreational opportunities,鈥� he said.

Jim Voetberg, city manager for Newport, agrees with that notion.

鈥淚t will be an improved route that we expect many more people to take,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t leads right into Newport, so the city should be the central hub of the central coast of Oregon. There鈥檚 a tremendous amount of anticipation for it.鈥�

Even though the project has dragged on, both Lindley and Voetberg believe it will be finished eventually. Amberg is less confident.

鈥淲hen I first came here four years ago, it was supposed to be finished in two years,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hen the report after that was, 鈥榃e don鈥檛 know when it鈥檚 going to be finished.鈥� And now it鈥檚 鈥榃e don鈥檛 even know if we鈥檙e going to try to finish it.鈥� 鈥�

ODOT鈥檚 fifth 10-day extension lasts to the end of next Wednesday. ODOT representative Rick Little has stated that the agency is fully committed to finishing the project.