UMATILLA, MORROW COUNTIES — Sidewalks and crosswalks in Umatilla and Morrow counties won’t be a walk in the park during the next few months.

The Oregon Department of Transportation announced Feb. 12 that construction has started to update curb ramps in four cities across the two counties. Some work should be done by mid-February, while other projects won’t be completed until October.

The ramps will meet the federal Americans with Disabilities Act standards and make up Phase 2A of an ODOT project to upgrade curb ramps. The ramps make it easier for people to move between the sidewalk and road — whether they have trouble stepping up or down or they use a stroller, wheelchair, walker or bicycle.

“Our schedule is tentative and subject to change,” the ODOT announcement said. “There are a lot of moving parts to a project in multiple communities and we will do our best to keep you updated as our work progresses.”

During construction crews will work Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. There also may be lane or shoulder closures as well as traffic flow changes. Sidewalks may be closed, leading to temporary pedestrian detours around work zones, but businesses will remain open. Phase 2A is expected to cost $8 million to $8.5 million.

In Echo, crews are finishing up work that started in January. They installed new curb ramps along Oregon Trail Road, from Leezer Avenue to Bonanza Street.

On Main Street in Boardman, at the Interstate 84 eastbound and westbound on- and off-ramps, ODOT crews are removing existing ramps. Concrete for new ramps was scheduled to be poured Feb. 14 for new curbs and sidewalks.

After finishing work in Boardman, crews will start construction in Umatilla. New curbs will be installed on Highway 730, from the east end of the Umatilla Bridge to Interstate 82 northbound’s on- and off-ramps.

In early March, work in Hermiston will begin in two areas — on Highway 207/Elm Avenue from Townsend Road to the hospital entrance and on 207/11th Avenue from Elm Avenue to Joseph Avenue.

ODOT’s announcement said not all curb ramps will be updated in Hermiston locations during Phase 2A of this project; the rest will be upgraded in Phase 2B, which is under design and includes upgrades in Irrigon.