jakebigham
In case anyone is planning to ride up around Govie-
Begin forwarded message:
> From: "HARRY Steven M"
> Date: September 7, 2007 4:04:33 PM PDT
> Subject: Upcoming Hwy 35 closure Oct. 1-3, 2007, and longer-term plan
>
> Please pass this message along to any e-mail lists you have for
> this area and post in any prominent public space..
>
> Thanks,
>
> Steve Harry
>
> Steven M. Harry
> Community Affairs Manager / Noise Control Manager
> Oregon Department of Transportation
> Region 1
> 123 NW Flanders St.
> Portland, OR 97209-4037
>
> Telephone: 503-731-3490
> Fax: 503-731-3266
>
> ODOT Region 1 website: http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/REGION1/
>
>
>
> Hwy 35 to close Sept.19 - 21
> Short-term, long-term work planned for Highway 35
>
> The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) will close Highway
> 35 at milepost 62, approximately 5 miles north of the Highway 35/
> U.S. 26 (Mt. Hood Highway) junction, Wednesday, October 1, at 5:00
> a.m. through Wednesday, October 3, at 8:00 p.m. The work is
> immediately north of the intersection with Hwy 35 and U. S. Forest
> Service Road 48, therefore, any traffic traveling north on Hwy 48
> will be redirected back to Mt. Hood Highway 26.
>
> The full closure is necessary to install a five-foot-tall overflow
> culvert pipe at Iron Creek.
> During heavy rain events, the main culvert pipe frequently
> overflows allowing water to cross Highway 35.
>
> The new overflow pipe will provide another outlet, keeping water
> off the roadway in most events.
>
> During the culvert work, motorists traveling from Hood River to
> Government Camp or U.S. 26 have two detour options:
>
> · I-84 westbound to Troutdale to U.S. 26
> · I-84 eastbound to The Dalles to Highway 197 southbound to
> Highway 216 westbound to U.S. 26
>
> The Iron Creek culvert enhancement work is part of a 13-culvert
> repair and replacement project that was designed in the wake of
> last years debris flow event on Highway 35.
>
> Early in November 2006, heavy rains on Mt. Hood caused major
> flooding of White River, Newton and Clark creeks along Highway 35.
> The highway was closed for about a month after debris covered the
> roadway and the White River cut a channel across the highway. The
> majority of the initial emergency work has been done, with the
> remainder to be substantially completed by the end of October.
> Some regulated work within stream beds will be done next summer.
>
> In addition to this immediate work, longer-term solutions are
> being explored for the Highway 35 corridor.
>
> ODOT has asked the Western Federal Lands Highway Division (WFLHD)
> of FHWA to take the lead on the environmental work, design and
> construction of the long-term permanent repairs to the Highway.
> The proposed project may include replacing and extending bridges,
> replacing and adding culverts, changes in vertical alignments, and
> potentially realigning the Highway to bypass the flood prone sites.
>
> In January 2007, ODOT Director Matthew Garrett requested Emergency
> Relief (ER) funding from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
> for long-term repairs for Highway 35 and other state highways
> damaged by the 2006 storms. Those funds would provide a long-term
> solution to reduce the risk of emergency damage to these two flood
> prone sites on Oregon Highway 35 and consider alternatives
> identified in the 2003 Feasibility Study of Highway 35. This
> request was approved for a total of $64 million with the help and
> support of the Oregon Congressional delegation. $47 million of the
> total will go toward long-term repairs to Highway 35.
>
>
> Although the work is just beginning, it is anticipated the
> environmental portion may take a year or longer to complete, with
> design and construction to follow.
>
> Meanwhile, the risk remains for additional glacial or weather-
> related events along the highway. As the work evolves,
> stakeholders and the public will be included in the process with
> public meetings to be scheduled starting as early as this fall.
>
> WFLHD will seek input from the Forest Service (FS), ODOT, and the
> public throughout development of the project. WFLHD is
> establishing an interagency project team and a steering committee
> to help lead the project through development.
>
> George Fekaris (WFLHD), Diana Bambe (FS) and Larry Olson (ODOT)
> will be the contacts for their respective agencies.
>
> For more information please contact:
>
> Steve Harry , ODOT Region 1 Community Affairs Manager
> (503)731-3490
> steven.m.harry@odot.state.or.us
>
> Mike Mason, ODOT Region 1 Project Information Coordinator
> (503)731-8246
> Michael.w.mason@odot.state.or.us
>
> or Stacy Thomas, (ODOT Region 1 Senior Community Affairs Coordinator
> 503)731-8281
> stacy.l.thomas@odot.state.or.us
> 123 NW Flanders St.
> Portland, OR 97209-4012
>