McKenzie Pass/OR 242 conditions

T. Kenji Sugahara

2015-02-11

>From our friends at ODOT.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: HORNING Jessica
Date: Wed, Feb 11, 2015 at 2:48 PM
Subject: McKenzie Pass/OR 242 conditions

Please share with anyone who might be thinking of heading out to
McKenzie Pass for an early season ride. The highway is still
technically closed and it sounds like we���ve got a bit of clearing work
left to do.

Jessica Horning
Transit and Active Transportation Liaison
ODOT Region 1
Direct: 503-731-3359
Jessica.Horning@odot.state.or.us

***Please note, my regular work schedule is Mon-Thurs 7:30 - 6:00.***

Subject: OR 242 conditions

Hello everyone,

I���m hearing some second-hand information that several bicycle groups
in the state may be planning a ride this weekend on OR 242, the old
McKenzie Pass Highway. Some photos posted on ODOT���s Flickr account
show little snow and bare asphalt near the observatory.

Our Lane County crew has been working on the highway���s west side and
confirms that there is a lot of debris on the roadway���rocks, trees,
limbs, patches of snow-- that could pose safety hazards for
bicyclists. As the crews traveled a section of the highway yesterday,
they had to cut as many as thirty trees that had fallen across the
road. In addition, there���s a layer of packed snow and ice that
begins at about MP 69.

I���ll be escorting media onto the highway tomorrow and will have a
better idea of the conditions at that time. I just wanted to make
sure that anyone currently making plans for trek are adequately
informed.

The highway remains technically closed. The two gates on the west
side remain locked. That could make any emergency response to the
highway slow and difficult to coordinate. It���s important that anyone
planning to access the highway should do so only at their own risk.

My colleague Peter Murphy is probably more familiar with the east side
of the highway. Perhaps he can offer insight about conditions
traveling west from Sisters.

Please forward this email to anyone who might benefit from the information.

Travel safely���

--Rick

Rick Little
Oregon Department of Transportation
Public Information Officer, Region 2
Phone: (541) 726-2442
Cell: (541) 505-2069
Email: richard.little@odot.state.or.us

--
Kenji Sugahara
Executive Director
Oregon Bicycle Racing Association
Phone: 503-278-5550
http://www.obra.org