Byway road conditions – Hells Canyon Scenic Byway https://hellscanyonbyway.com A Beautiful Drive in Northeast Oregon Sat, 17 Oct 2015 17:51:46 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.1 https://hellscanyonbyway.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/cropped-images-32x32.png Byway road conditions – Hells Canyon Scenic Byway https://hellscanyonbyway.com 32 32 Completion of Construction Project Celebrated https://hellscanyonbyway.com/completion-of-construction-project-celebrated/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=completion-of-construction-project-celebrated Sat, 17 Oct 2015 17:51:46 +0000 http://hellscanyonbyway.com/?p=1894 Wednesday, October 15, was a day of celebration for Northeast Oregon. Officials gathered at Lake Fork Campground beside the FS Road 39 for a ribbon cutting and ceremonial opening of the 13-mile section of road that has been under construction for over two years. The new smooth, black pavement was the star of the day as participants recalled dodging potholes and avoiding cracks and washouts before the project began in 2013. A detour has skirted traffic round the construction at times and delays with flaggers and one-way traffic allowed vehicles to navigate through the project the rest of the construction phase. The highway was reopened about a month ago. FS 39 connects OR Hwy 82 (Wallowa County) with OR Hwy 86 (Baker County), completing the byway loop that encircles the Wallowa Mountains and the Eagle Cap Wilderness.

Representatives from the Wallowa Whitman National Forest, Federal Highways Administration, Senator Ron Wyden’s office, Tidewater Construction, Oregon Department of Transportation, Baker, Union and Wallowa County governments, the Eastern Oregon Visitors Association and the Baker County Chamber of Commerce were among the crowd of about 25 individuals. Some provided recaps of the project and of the history of the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway, designated an All-American Road by the FHA in 2000. The importance of the road to the region’s tourism industry, ranching community and commerce was highlighted several times.

Why not mark the progression of fall with a scenic drive around the byway this weekend? There are still plenty of autumn leaves to brighten the landscape and make you want to stop for photo opportunities. Officials caution that wildlife is plentiful, so please slow down and take the time to enjoy this magnificent corridor through our corner of the world. Shops and restaurants are open throughout the byway to sooth a hungry stomach or provide what you want in picnic supplies or souvenirs. Check the Visitor Resources page for information from the chambers of commerce.

]]> WALLOWA-WHITMAN NATIONAL FOREST HAS NEW WEBSITE https://hellscanyonbyway.com/wallowa-whitman-national-forest-has-new-website/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=wallowa-whitman-national-forest-has-new-website Tue, 10 May 2011 17:46:21 +0000 http://hellscanyonbyway.com/wordpress/?p=267 One of the most frequently asked questions the byway organization receives concerns the status of the Forest Service 39 Road, which links the north leg of the byway (Oregon Highway 82 from La Grande to Enterprise and Joseph) with the south leg of the byway (Oregon Highway 86 from Baker City to Halfway, Copperfiled/Oxbow and the Snake River). The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest has a new website that is designed to be more user friendly and allows more frequent updating of information pertaining to the byway, the FS 39 Road and other activities of interest to forest users.

“We (the entire forest service) are in the process of updating the agency website and the Wallowa-Whitman “migrated” a couple months ago,” said Judy Wing, W-W Public Information Officer. “We have a new address www.fs.usda.gov/wallowa-whitman, but you are also automatically directed from the old site. We are encouraging folks to spend a little time and find where things are. On the front page, on the right is a link to current conditions and on the current conditions page is an update and link to a one-page FS Road 39 information sheet (it’s a pdf).

“We are updating the information whenever we hear of a change in how far you can get up the road, usually about once a week. The one page update has information about the planned paving project.” Byway travelers can check the update before traveling the byway for the latest in road conditions and the repair activities taking place at the site of the FS 39 washout in June 2010. Travel through the washout section on a gravel road will be possible around Memorial Day weekend or when the FS 39 is clear of snow and opened for the summer season. Paving of the section will take place this summer.

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