Gillespie Corners, Oregon

43°54′38″N 123°14′57″W / 43.91056°N 123.24917°W / 43.91056; -123.24917CountryUnited StatesStateOregonCountyLaneTime zoneUTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)

Gillespie Corners is a road junction and unincorporated locale in Lane County, Oregon, United States.^[1][2] Gillespie Corners lies at the intersection of Territorial Highway and Lorane Highway, southwest of Eugene. The Territorial Highway is one of Oregon's oldest roads. It can be traced to at least 1851, and by 1947 was referred to in a judicial opinion as the "Old Territorial Highway"

The locale was named for brothers Marcellus and Walter Gillespie, grandsons of pioneer Jacob Gillespie, who was a member of the Oregon Territorial Legislature and the namesake for Gillespie Butte in Eugene.

Flood Mitigation. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released a Draft Environmental Assessment in February, 2024, for a project proposed by the Lane County Public Works Department. The project aims to improve a 2,000-foot section of Territorial Highway at Gillespie Corners.

The focus is on enhancing safety by correcting road alignment, increasing sight distances, and widening shoulders. The work will involve raising the road surface by 2-3 feet, widening it to 34 feet with designated lanes, and improving two bridges at Coyote Creek. To minimize environmental impact, the plan includes installing vegetative filters and using existing roadways for temporary detours and staging. This project requires review under the National Historic Preservation Act due to potential cultural resource impacts.^[3]

References

External links

• Restore Oregon application for 2012 Oregon's Most Endangered Places for Lorane Elementary School, includes history of Gillespie Corners