Busy traffic on WB I-84 expected over Thanksgiving holiday

Nov. 21, 2017

Contact: Don Hamilton, 503-704-7452

Leave more time for Thanksgiving travel;

congested highways expected everywhere

The Sunday after Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel days of the year and that will be especially true this year on westbound Interstate 84 near Hood River.

Travelers should expect congested highways everywhere in Oregon in the days before and after Thanksgiving. Roads, airports and train stations may be jammed with holiday crowds.

 Westbound I-84 at milepost 52 could prove particularly difficult this year.

 Since the Eagle Creek Fire, eastbound I-84 traffic has been diverted onto one lane of westbound I-84, creating one lane each for eastbound and westbound. This configuration is in place near milepost 52, for 1.2 miles, for crews clearing hazard trees and other fire debris from adjacent Shellrock Mountain.

Westbound traffic approaching this configuration from may be become busy on Sunday, Nov. 26 with travelers returning to the Portland area after the Thanksgiving weekend.

Work on the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail is not expected to cause any delays over the holiday weekend.

Westbound travelers in the area west of Hood River should expect delays and consider alternate routes, such as State Route 14 in Washington or, weather permitting, OR 35 and U.S. 26 over Mount Hood. Travelers using the mountain passes should be prepared for treacherous weather conditions.

 For up to date traffic conditions go to Tripcheck.com, which includes traffic cameras.