Sign of the snowy season: ODOT closes the gates on the west side of McKenzie Pass
KTVZ
(Update: Adding video)
EUGENE, Ore. (KTVZ) – Weekend snowfall over the Cascades has prompted the Oregon Department of Transportation to close the gates on the west side of McKenzie Pass, Oregon Highway 242.
Crews closed the gates Tuesday morning near the junction with Oregon Highway 126 and at the summit by Dee Wright Observatory.
Gates on the east side are expected to remain open a bit longer, with Nov. 6 as the latest possible closing date, ODOT said.
Weather conditions can vary on each side of the pass, and it’s not uncommon for one side to close before the other, ODOT said in a news release Tuesday that continues in full below:
McKenzie Pass is a secondary, scenic highway. Weather, costs and logistics make it impractical to maintain for travel year-round. In the winter, we focus our staff and resources on main highways to keep them plowed, open and safe.
When the highway is closed, it is not maintained. Travelers who go past locked gates and closure signs could encounter hazards and equipment on the road. There are no services or cell coverage available.
Every year, McKenzie Pass opens and closes with the seasons. Dates vary depending on road and weather conditions.
McKenzie Pass became a seasonal scenic highway in 1962 with the completion of the Clear Lake-Belknap Springs section of Oregon 126.
Even during its time as the main route between the Willamette Valley and Central Oregon, the narrow, twisting roadway and high elevation (5,325 feet) made the highway too difficult to maintain and keep clear during the winter months.
To see what routes are open over the mountains, and to view current road and weather conditions visit TripCheck.com or call 511.
More information on McKenzie Pass, OR 242, can be found on ODOT’s website.