Heads up, drivers: Cornelius Pass Road, also known as OR 127, is slated for a brief shutdown for chip sealing work, designed to extend the pavement's life. The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) will close the road from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 5, and Wednesday, Aug. 6, according to a bulletin from ODOT. Those planning on traveling the full stretch between U.S. 26 and U.S. 30 will want to bypass the area by using U.S. Interstate 405.
Closure details: Local traffic will still have access to the section from U.S. 30 to NW Skyline Boulevard, though officials urge caution and awareness of flaggers. Meanwhile, the segment from Skyline Boulevard to the south end of Old Cornelius Pass Road will be completely closed, officials recommend a detour on Old Cornelius Pass Road for those affected. Travelers should check TripCheck.com for any last-minute alterations to the construction schedule.
The maintenance work comes amid financial strains for ODOT. The department faces a "significant and immediate funding shortfall," resulting in both layoffs and scaled-back operations. Despite these monetary challenges, officials assure that this chip sealing project will proceed as planned, with the work deemed crucial for infrastructure upkeep. ODOT stresses the importance of ensuring new revenue or spending flexibility to stop the bleeding and maintain essential services.
While this project forges ahead, others have been sidelined or scrapped – an unfortunate casualty of the budgetary woes plaguing the agency. Hundreds of ODOT employees are feeling the pinch, the department faces a stark reality: without an infusion of cash or a loosening of financial strictures, more cutbacks are inevitable.
