One Lane Re-opens on U.S. 30 west of Clatskanie

On December 11th the Lower Columbia River Highway was closed near Clatskanie from a slide several football fields long of mud, trees and other debris.

Photos courtesy: Oregon State Police

(CLATSKANIE, Ore.) - Traffic is once again moving on a stretch of highway near Clatskanie, Oregon that was ravaged by a mudslide last week. Oregon's Department of Transportation has re-opened one lane of U.S. 30 west of Clatskanie at milepost 67.

But they say motorists should still expect delays, as flaggers and pilot cars will control traffic through a limited section of this recently damaged roadway.

Motorists can also expect intermittent short delays of 10-15 minutes at any time of the day or night, to allow large equipment to move safely down or across the roadway.

The limitation of one lane will be in effect for at least the next two weeks.

Salem-News.com reported on December 11th that U.S. 30, the Lower Columbia River Highway, was closed in both directions at mile post 67 near Clatskanie, as crews worked into the night to clear the slide that covered a stretch of U.S. 30.

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The slide that moved across the highway was reportedly several football fields long. It was an oozing tangled mess of mud and earth, trees and other debris. ODOT officials say the slide caused several homes to be washed off their footings.

After that, U.S. 30 remained closed in both directions. ODOT says crews worked as fast as possible to clear the mud and other debris that was 10-feet-high in some areas. As the above photo shows, the mess that sprawled across the highway accounted for a large area and residents there say they appreciate the fact that one lane could be opened so quickly in light of the work required.

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