N MAIN AT E ILLINOIS TO SEE TRIAL CLOSURE
(NEWBERG, OR) – The intersection of N Main Street and E Illinois Street will close to vehicle traffic beginning September 15, 2025. This trial closure is intended to reduce the risk of injury to both motorists and pedestrians.
City of Newberg Public Works staff will install traffic bollards to block vehicle access. Pedestrians and cyclists will still be able to pass through and alternate routes are available for emergency services such as police and fire.
This intersection has long been a safety concern, with numerous community complaints about traffic flow. Previous improvement options ranged from minor adjustments to more complex redesigns. However, a key challenge has been the connection between Highway 240, Main and Illinois Streets. The highway, maintained by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), creates a near blind corner when merging onto Main Street, resulting in multiple near-miss incidents over the years.
Following several community listening sessions, the City determined that the most immediate and cost-effective solution is to close E Illinois Street at N Main Street to vehicle traffic. This measure will remain in place while longer-term safety improvements are evaluated.
Reader boards have been placed near the intersection to alert drivers, and additional signage will soon be installed to indicate the dead end. Navigation apps such as Google Maps, Waze, and Apple Maps are also being updated to reflect the closure.
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Questions? Contact City Manager Will Worthey at will.worthey@newbergoregon.gov
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Download the full press release
