Breaking News – 126 Closed Until at Least Friday

 

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Breaking News – Road Closure on Highway 126

In it for the long haul…

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A slide of mud, snow and trees blocked both lanes of travel on Highway 126 between Mapleton and Walton around 9 AM this morning. (Photo by Oregon Department of Transportation)
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Some of the debris blocking Highway 126 between Mapleton and Walton because of the landslide at milepost 24. An Oregon Department of Transportation snow plow operator was in the area and witnessed much of the slide coming across the highway. Nobody was injured. (photo by Oregon Department of Transportation.

Highway 126 about ten miles east of Mapleton remains closed in both directions, and will stay that way until at least tomorrow.  A slide at milepost 24 has blocked both lanes of traffic and as of midday, the slide was still considered ‘active’.  That means, says Oregon Department of Transportation spokesman Rick Little that it is still moving and it is unsafe for crews to begin clearing it away.

Little says they are monitoring the slide and a geologist will evaluate it sometime late this afternoon or evening.  He estimates it will be at least tomorrow before the roadway can be opened to travel, but he said, it would be impossible to put a specific time when it travel can resume.

Until then, he said, ODOT is routing all traffic between Mapleton and the Willamette Valley through Highway 36 between Junction City and Mapleton.

ODOT recommends going to Trip Check.Com for the latest road information.