Highway work pauses between Christmas and New Year’s Day
The Debris Management Task Force will suspend hazard tree removal work along state highways to help mitigate traffic delays leading up to Christmas and through New Year’s Day weekend. Wildfire recovery related traffic control will be as follows:
No traffic control measures in place Thursday, Dec. 23 through Sunday, Jan. 2:
Highway 22 (Beachie Creek/Lionshead Fire areas, Marion and Linn counties)
Highway 126 (Holiday Farm Fire area, Lane County)
No traffic control measures in place Thursday, Dec. 23 through Monday, Jan. 3:
Highway 138 (Archie Creek Fire area, Douglas County)
Highway 224 remains closed east of Estacada (Riverside Fire area, Clackamas County).
Questions about Highway 224 can be directed to Don Hamilton, ODOT Region 1 Public Information Officer or Will Ewing, ODOT Interim District 2C Manager
Travelers should still expect potential travel delays due to holiday traffic and inclement weather. We strongly recommend visiting TripCheck for the latest traffic delay updates and road conditions.
To help make your plans enjoyable, here are three tips for planning your holiday travel:
Stay aware and diligent. Keep an eye out for changes in the landscape including water levels and soil erosion.
Be mindful of what you know. Try to stick to locations you’re familiar with as fire-affected landscapes might look dramatically different than you remember. These changes in landscape may be shocking and familiar landmarks and signage may be missing.
If you come across a work area—whether that be debris or hazard tree removal, utility, construction, or another activity—maintain a safe distance away from this important wildfire recovery work. Even while work is paused, areas may present safety hazards including—but not limited to—dead or dying hazard trees and remaining debris or other work occurring independent of Task Force operations.
As Oregon transitions into winter and hazard tree removal work resumes, operations may be impacted by inclement weather. Hazard tree removal work along highways and county roads is anticipated to continue through 2021 and into 2022. Check for the latest updates on our news blog and visit the Step 2 Cleanup Progress page to view our Property Status Map and our By the Numbers Dashboard.
