PHOTO COURTESY OF OSP
Eastbound lanes on Interstate 84 along the Columbia River Gorge will be closed through the weekend while crews work to remove boulders and debris that fell onto the lanes during a landslide Wednesday evening.
One person was uninjured Wednesday night after their vehicle crashed into a several large boulders during a landslide on Interstate 84 about one mile west of Hood River. The slide is blocking the eastbound lanes. ODOT personnel are on scene working on clearing the slide before deciding when it is safe to re-open the eastbound lanes for traffic. About 2,000 cubic yards of debris fell on the interstate.
The accident occurred around 7:26 p.m. on Wednesday when a passenger car driven by an adult male was eastbound on I-84 near milepost 61 when a landslide occurred from the south side of the freeway lanes. Large boulders and debris slid across the eastbound lanes, pushing the concrete center barrier into the left westbound lane. The car’s occupant was not injured. The person’s name is not available for release.
This is the second time in the last 30 days or so that falling boulders created a dangerous hazard on I-84. Remember this story?
Oregon State Police and local emergency responders went to the scene along with ODOT personnel. Eastbound lanes are expected to re-open by Monday.
ODOT says one alternate route around the closure is U.S. 26 east to OR 35, and then north to I-84 in Hood River.
“These highways are icy in spots, so please exercise caution: slow down and leave more room between cars. Please expect delays and slow-moving trucks,” ODOT said in a news release.
Another alternate route is I-205 north into Washington; then SR-14 east to Hood River and back across the Hood River Bridge to continue on I-84 east. Over-sized loads are not allowed on SR-14, ODOT said.
Drivers should expect delays.
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