Slides and Unstable Snowpack Keep U.S. 20 at Santiam Pass Closed

ODOT advises motorists to avoid traveling through the Cascade passes today because of expectations of heavy snowfall. Other conditional closures are possible if conditions worsen.

File photo of another recent pass closure Photo courtesy: Oregon State Police

(DETROIT, Ore.) - U.S. 20 will remain closed from milepost 75 to milepost 80 for most of the day because of the snow slides that occurred at about 6:30 AM. In addition, there is a high probability of more slides from slopes above the highway due to the unstable snowpack coupled with blizzard conditions and high wind gusts.

ODOT crews with snow blowers and snow plows are removing the slide debris that came down this morning, but it is snowing so hard that as soon as crews clear a lane, it quickly becomes snowed over again.

High winds are also blowing massive amounts of snow onto the highway. Those same winds are loading the slopes of Hogg Rock with additional snow. This wind loading of the steeper slopes could trigger additional slides.

Forecasts predict another 2 feet of snow will fall in the Santiam Pass area over the next 12 hours. For safety reasons, the highway is likely to remain closed even after the slide debris is removed due to the probability of more slides. The closure could extend overnight into Friday, depending on the weather.

ODOT crews have placed signs on various highways to advise motorists of the closure. The closure points are:

* Highway 22, at Idanha, about 5 miles east of Detroit

* Highway 126 eastbound at the Oregon 242 junction, east of McKenzie Bridge

* Highway 20 at Camp Sherman

ODOT advises motorists to avoid traveling through the Cascade passes today because of expectations of heavy snowfall. Other conditional closures are possible if conditions worsen.