The Dalles – Crews are still working hard to replace the bridge deck on U.S. 197 over the Columbia River, but will not wrap up work by Memorial Day as they’d originally planned.
The last weekend closure before summer will happen 8 p.m. Thursday May 5 through 6 a.m. Monday May 9.
Weekend closures will pause during the summer so the road can better handle increased traffic from tourists, wildfire responders and agricultural workers.
Through mid-July, crews will continue nightly single lane closures while they work.
Weekend closures will resume after Labor Day. Without these closures, there is no other way for crews to complete the complex deck replacement. These weekend closures ensure that the bridge won’t be closed entirely for an extended period of time.
ODOT will continue to meet with stakeholders over the next two months to review emergency operations and to discuss how to reduce the impacts caused by this delayed project completion.
ODOT will share a revised construction schedule this summer.