(Photo: Carye Bye)
For four months beginning this fall, a Federal Highway Administration project in the Columbia River Gorge will come with a road closure that will prohibit vehicle access — including bikes — to popular bicycling routes on the Historic Columbia River Highway (HCRH).
The Crown Point Viaduct Project will replace the aging, 600-foot long “half-bridge” that supports the sidewalk around Vista House, a popular viewpoint and destination. The project area also includes restoration to portions of the HCRH between Larch Mountain Road and Crown Point, and between Crown Point and Latourell Falls. (Fun trivia: The HCRH is one of only two roads in the United States designated as a National Historic Landmark, a National Scenic Byway, and a National Historic District.)
(Photo: ODOT)
Due to construction, a portion of the road will be closed to all vehicles (that means bikes too) from September 4th through December 31st of this year. Here are the specifics on the two closures that impact bike access:
September 4 – September 30, 2012: From Crown Point to Latourell Falls, the historic highway will be closed to all vehicles, including bicycles
October 1 – December 31, 2012: From its intersection with Larch Mountain Road to Latourell Falls, the historic highway will be closed to all vehicles, including bicycles.
The project is slated to begin in August, so stay tuned to the official project website for the latest info about road closures and other issues.