Intersection to close in 12th St. upgrade; paving begins Oct. 16
This intersection at 12th and Thompson streets in east The Dalles will be closed for several days for paving as Crestline Construction focuses in on finishing a $1.9 million upgrade.
The Dalles, Ore., Oct. 14, 2025 — Drivers and residents along East 12th Street should prepare for a full closure of the intersection at East 12th and Thompson from Wednesday, Oct. 15 through Friday, Oct. 17, as crews complete a key stretch of paving work.
The closure is part of the $1.9 million East 12th Street upgrade project, a long-awaited investment bringing storm drains, sidewalks, and safer access to a neighborhood that for years pressed city leaders for improvements. The half-mile project, awarded to Crestline Construction last fall, is funded through federal American Rescue Plan dollars and city transportation reserves, covering costs at no charge to adjacent homeowners.
Work schedule and impacts
According to Crestline Construction, paving will take place Oct. 16 and 17, followed by driveway tie-ins the week after. During this time, residents are being asked to park on the south side of the road shoulder and to avoid driving on the new asphalt until Friday evening, Oct. 17. Crews also caution drivers not to cross “hot” asphalt and to follow the directions of flaggers and on-site personnel.
Neighborhood history and upgrades
The upgrades mark the culmination of a years-long debate tied to a proposed 80-unit housing project on Richmond Street. In 2020, the council initially denied the project, only to have that decision overturned by the state Land Use Board of Appeals. Neighbors voiced concerns about density, traffic, and the lack of sidewalks. City leaders later prioritized 12th Street in its transportation and stormwater plans, paving the way for today’s improvements.
The work addresses chronic drainage issues by replacing open ditches with a 12-inch storm drain and installing curb-and-gutter along both sides of the corridor. ADA-compliant sidewalks will also make the street more walkable and safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
Residents weigh in
For neighbors like Ben Rivers, who has lived on 12th Street for three decades, the disruption has been tough but worthwhile. “It’s just filthy, dirty dust,” he said, “but Crestline has done all they can to make it tolerable. I think it’s definitely a needed improvement, especially if they develop that property down at the end of the street.”
Another resident, Les Kipper, noted how crews adjusted their work to individual property needs: “They stop what they’re doing to help if there’s any kind of a problem. You look at the long game — it’s going to be a really nice project.”
