ODOT's last two major Gorge repair projects remaining from the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire are now under way
Nov. 18, 2020
CASCADE LOCKS – Work along the Historic Columbia River Highway and State Trail will bring trail closures and lane closures on the highway.
At the Oneonta Tunnel, look for flaggers and single lane closures on the Historic Highway as crews repair damage caused by the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire.
In addition, further east at Toothrock Tunnel, the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail will be closed between the Toothrock Trailhead and Eagle Creek for installation of rockfall mesh and to stabilize the hillside above the tunnel’s east portal. The work is up slope from the eastbound Interstate 84 exit ramp at Eagle Creek.
The Toothrock Trailhead will also be closed but expect no impact to traffic on I-84. Work is scheduled to continue through Dec. 12. Next week, the trail will be open Thursday, Nov. 26 through Sunday, Nov. 29. for the holiday weekend.
These are ODOT’s last two major Gorge repair projects remaining from the fire three years ago.
About the Oneonta Tunnel
The 125-foot Oneonta Tunnel opened in 1914 as part of the Historic Columbia River Highway. But by 1948, the tunnel was too narrow for the wider contemporary vehicles and too small for the increasing traffic. So ODOT redirected traffic and filled it with rubble. In 2009, however, ODOT restored it for bicycle and pedestrian use as part of the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail.
The 2017 Eagle Creek Fire badly damaged the Oneonta Tunnel’s wood lining and now the restoration is under way. The first phase took place in early 2020 and addressed rockfall dangers on the hillside at and above the tunnel.
The second phase, underway now, will restore the tunnel. The work will continue through the summer of 2021.
For more information about the tunnel and the restoration work, go to the project web site.
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