Historic Columbia River Highway
Highway in the News
November 6, 2024
ODOT, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and project partners are dedicating the Mitchell Point Tunnel as part of the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail.
The finishing touches on this trail segment are weather dependent and some construction activity may continue after the dedication. The dedication event offers an opportunity to preview the tunnel.
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Date: Saturday, November 16, 2024
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Time: Beginning at 11 a.m.
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Getting to the dedication: Transportation to the event will be limited to Columbia Area Transit and shuttles from Viento State Park or Hood River, or walking from Viento State Park using the existing Historic Highway State Trail and a temporary 0.7-mile connection.
March 8, 2023
Coming late May 2023: Multnomah Falls Timed Use Permits required at I-84/Exit 31
Between May 26 and Sept. 4, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., a Timed Use Permit will be required for each personal vehicle accessing Multnomah Falls from Exit 31. Multnomah Falls permits will be available online for a $2 transaction fee per vehicle.
Timed use permits will not be required on the Historic Columbia River Highway/U.S. 30 in 2023. However, parking is extremely limited at the small lot along the Historic Highway/U.S. 30 at Multnomah Falls. A concessionaire will be operating this lot on a first-come, first served basis. There are six ADA parking spots at this lot for those with valid ADA placards. When the parking lot is full, vehicles will not be allowed to stop or wait for an open space.
The most reliable way to see Multnomah Falls continues to be transit, by bicycle, or by tour/shuttle. Avoid the congestion by planning your trip in advance. Permits are only needed if you arrive by personal vehicle at I-84 Exit 31 for Multnomah Falls.
If you want to visit Multnomah Falls by personal vehicle, the best way is to take I-84 to Exit 31. Permits will be available on recreation.gov two weeks in advance of your visit date.
Columbia River Gorge Construction: 2023
We’re improving Gorge highways and trails to bring you better trips with many upcoming projects over the next few years. We have new projects that will begin construction and projects that will continue work in 2023.
A site visit to the Mitchell Point Tunnel in February 2023. Masonry rock is installed in the walls. In the distance, the tunnel entrance is visible with scaffolding to install masonry rock.
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Construction continues at the Mitchell Point Tunnel segment of the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail. The Mitchell Point Tunnel is expected to open in 2024.
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Construction continues on a new two-mile section of the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail connecting at Viento State Park and continuing east toward Mitchell Point. This segment is anticipated to open in late 2023. Expect around-the-clock lane closures on I-84 east near Exit 56 this spring.
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Resurfacing begins inside the Toothrock Tunnel in spring 2023. The work will require around-the-clock lane closures and speed reductions in the tunnel.
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Paving and resurfacing begin for two sections of I-84: From Interstate 205 to 169th Avenue, and from just east of 201st Avenue to Marine Drive (exit 17).
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Construction begins in early 2023 at the intersection of U.S. 30 (Cascade Avenue) at Rand Road in Hood River to align the north and south roads of the intersection and install a new signal, improving safety and accessibility.
Latourell Creek Bridge - Historic Columbia River Highway
Photo Credit: Multnomah County
November 2, 2022
New Bridge Completed Spanning Latourell Creek
After five months of construction, a new bridge is spanning Latourell Creek in the Columbia River Gorge.
The new concrete crossing on Northeast Latourell Road does away with the deteriorating timber bridge and allows for a safer crossing for the Latourell community with features to help the environment. It is five feet wider and 16 feet longer, allowing more space for both lanes of traffic. The bridge was also built a foot higher to avoid flooding.
The $2.6 million project was funded through the State Funded Local Projects program, which trades federal dollars for state funds on projects chosen under the Oregon Department of Transportation. The bridge was built by Multnomah County crews.
"I'm really proud of the project team for how they coordinated with the contractor and finished this project not only on time but on budget," said Sara Jeffrey, project manager.
The bridge connects a grouping of homes near the creek, and the guardrails were painted brown and made of timber and steel to blend into the natural environment. There was also a stormwater filter installed adjacent to the bridge to treat runoff from the street.
Construction began on July 15 — a timetable set by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife so not to disrupt fish and wildlife. Crews also planted nearly 60 trees and more than 600 plants around the bridge to help the forest grow back.
"This new bridge blends seamlessly into the surrounding environment and will provide the Latourell community with a consistent and safe second access route that is less prone to flooding," said Commissioner Lori Stegmann.
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