Dan Kaempff

July 13,
2012
12-36-R1
For more
information:
Don Hamilton, (503)
731-8265,
Don.B.Hamilton@odot.state.or.us
Kimberly Dinwiddie, (503) 731-8281,
Kimberly.Dinwiddie@odot.state.or.us

Historic Columbia River
Highway
restoration starts
Monday
The project includes
closure of the Vista House from Oct. 1 to Dec.
31
The historic Vista House overlooking the Columbia River
Gorge will be closed for the last three months of 2012 so workers can restore
the Crown Point viaduct and repave three miles of the Historic Columbia River
Highway between Larch Mountain Road and Latourell
Falls.
Lane closures will begin Monday as the first step in the
year-long project.
The Oct. 1-to-Dec. 31 Vista House closure will coincide with
restoration of the 600-foot concrete viaduct which surrounds the historic 1918
building. Work will be done in two phases, the first from Monday July 16 to Dec.
31, 2012 and from April 1, 2013 until completion by late spring
2013.
The viaduct and its 29
support columns are deteriorating. Without restoration, the walls could fail and
jeopardize the safety of both Vista House and the highway. Without repairs, the
road could require weight restrictions, which could keep tourist buses, RVs and
other large vehicles off the road.
The Vista House building itself will not be involved in
the project as it underwent a five-year restoration, re-opening in
2005.
Here is the closure schedule:

July 16 to Aug. 31, 2012: The Historic Columbia River Highway from
Larch Mountain Road to Bridal Veil Falls will see periodic weekday lane closures
with traffic delays of up to 30 minutes. Vista House will be
open.
Sept. 4 to Sept. 30, 2012: The highway from Crown Point to Latourell
Falls will be closed to all pedestrians and vehicles, including bicycles, with
Larch Mountain Road to Crown Point closed to vehicles longer than 25 feet. Vista
House will be open.
Oct. 1 to Dec. 31: The highway from Larch Mountain Road to Latourell
Falls will be closed to all pedestrians and vehicles, including bicycles.
Latourell Falls to Bridal Veil Falls will be closed to vehicles longer than 25
feet Vista House will be closed.
Jan. 1 to April 1: Infrequent lane closures with specific traffic
restrictions yet to be determined. Vista House will be open on its winter
schedule.
April 1, 2013: Tentative start date for the final phase of the
project, expected to be completed by late spring 2013. Periodic lane closures
with specifics still to be determined. Vista House will be
open.
The road now called the
Historic Columbia River Highway opened in 1916. Vista House, at the Crown Point
summit 733 feet above the Columbia River, opened two years later. The road was
the primary route through the Columbia River Gorge until 1963, Interstate 80N
opened. I-80N was renamed I-84 in 1980.
For more information, go to http://www.wfl.fhwa.dot.gov/projects/or/crownpoint.
##ODOT##

ST]]

Vista House Closure 071312.pdf

For updated information on highway work and current travel information
throughout Oregon, visit www.tripcheck.com or call the Oregon road report at 511 or
1-800-977-6368 Visit the ODOT News Media Center at www.oregon.gov/ODOT/COMM