Salem, Ore. – Despite the continued record rainfall in Northwest Oregon, ODOT’s Region 2 in Salem reports no new major road closures following last night’s severe storm. However, the region has not gone unscathed. A number of areas remain with high standing water and maintenance crews continue to monitor numerous places where slopes remain unstable, roads have sunk and culverts are overflowing.
There are no major closures of state highways in Lane, Linn and Benton counties. The only state highway closed currently in the Mid-Willamette Valley is OR 229 at milepost 14-15 about 10 miles north of Siletz in Lincoln County because of high water and flooding.
Contractors are continuing to work on emergency culvert replacement projects on OR 22 (Three Rivers Highway) at milepost 12 in Polk County and OR 131 at Happy Camp Road in Tillamook County. Both roads are estimated to open next Tuesday or Wednesday. A contractor is setting up to begin work on a culvert repair that has closed OR 202 south of Astoria in Clatsop County.
U.S. 101 at milepost 48 south of Wheeler will continue to remain open to two-way traffic controlled by flaggers 24-7. Also, flooding in Tillamook has periodically closed U.S. 101 and OR 6. However, a local detour is available.
ODOT encourages travelers to be cautious while using all Northwest area highways, especially those on the Coast and in the Coast Range, where there are a number of hazards caused by record rainfall and strong winds. Travelers should expect high standing water, unstable slopes and debris and fallen trees.
