Update: ODOT now reports the highway has opened at 2pm today (12/29/18)
Detroit – Travelers heading through the Cascades this weekend should check TripCheck.com, watch for reader board messages, and plan on alternate routes as OR 22 remains closed by a rockslide just west of Detroit, between the Brietenbush Bridge and Brietenbush Road SE. Make sure you know where you’re going and don’t take roads that may not be maintained in winter. Brietenbush Road SE is not maintained as a through route.
The first of two slides at milepost 50 was reported about 5 p.m. Friday night. Crews had just completed cleanup about 6 p.m. when about 300 yards of rocks and mud slid down the hill, taking 200 feet of rock fence with it to the road. One lane of the road was fully covered, and rocks continued to fall through the evening. Crews began cleanup and worked through the night. Access to emergency vehicles has been available and maintained as cleanup continues.
A geological assessment of the site is underway to determine the stability of the slope and what needs to be done to ensure the safety of travelers on OR 22. There is no estimate for reopening at this time.
