West Sixth Street widening project in TD starts soon; Sorry, no Olive Garden
Street Improvement to increase safety for drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists
Crestline Construction will add a center lane and sidwalks to this portion of Sixth Street in The Dalles, currently referred to as the westend skinny. The area is a hot bed of near misses and full on accidents as the section of road has an intermittent center turn lane.
By Tom Peterson
The Dalles, Ore., March 4, 2025 — Crestline Construction is preparing for the $3.5 million West Sixth Street widening project.
Heavy equipment has moved into level staging areas for equipment and materials between Snipes and Hostetler streets on West Sixth in The Dalles.
The project will occur between Kentucky Fried Chicken and Spooky’s Restaurant. Full street and single lane closures on Sixth Street are expected intermittently during the 5-month construction period. Updates on closures will be issued as the project progresses.
The project is contracted to occur between March 27 and Nov. 21, 2025, however it is anticipated that most of the work will be completed in October.
The City of The Dalles contracted to do the work to improve safety. The project is designed to create a turn lane through the section of Sixth Street and will add sidewalks, and a bike lane in the area, which has high rates of vehicle crashes.
“We were out surveying for the project and witnessed a rear-end wreck at 6th and Hostetler,” said City Project Engineer Mike Bosse. “It kind of proves there is a need for it.”
BJ Hill with Crestline Construction was busy leveling a portion of the former Jones Wrecking Yard on West Sixth and Snipes streets this morning in preparation for the Sixth Street widening project.
BJ HIll, a Crestline Operator was running an excavator to level ground on former Jones Wrecking property near the corner of Snipes and Sixth streets this morning, March 4.
He said heavy equipment - hammers - will be used to loosen and remove rock on the Jones property that fronts Sixth street in days to come. The rock and dirt must be removed in order to widen the asphalt road to make room for the turn lane that will go in between Snipes and the Holiday Inn Express.
Similar rock and dirt removal and asphalt extension will be necessary between John L. Scott Realty and Hostetler Street to add the turn lane in that section of the road.
Heavy equipment has been used to level the lot between John L. Scott Reatly and Bi-Mart. Olive Garden?
Rumor Alert
Heavy equipment operators have also leveled out the vacant lot between John L. Scott Realty and Bi-Mart for a second staging area for equipment and materials. Some on Facebook have rumored that the site is the future location of an Olive Garden - perhaps The Dalles greatest bit of ongoing Facebook folklore.
Not true.
Pipping in the details
Single lane and entire road closures are expected as sanitary sewer lines and storm drain infrastructure are improved.
A pump station for the storm drain will be installed across the street from Bi-Mart as well as upgraded sewage pipes, and that work requires digging into Sixth Street.
Storm drain and sewerage drain upgrades will also occur from the entrance to KFC off Snipes Street to Sixth Street.
The utility work was identified as a project that was needed to upsize on the west end of town, Bosse said. “That project was identified years ago and were getting it done at the same time were improving the road.”
