Oregon DOT reminds commercial freight haulers about wildfire restrictions

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) recently issued a reminder to motorists and commercial vehicle drivers about speed and route restrictions that remain in place due to wildfires earlier this year.

ODOT issued a bulletin on November 10 to remind drivers that there are still restrictions in place on some Oregon roadways for wildfire recovery.

ODOT pointed to the following road restrictions:

• OR 22 through the Santiam Canyon between Gates (milepost 33) and Pamelia Creek Road (milepost 63). Speed limit is reduced to 40 mph in this area. Passenger vehicle and truck through traffic is allowed in the work zones.

• OR 126 between Vida (milepost 28) and Finn Rock (milepost 38). Speed limit is reduced to 45 mph in this area. Truck through traffic is not allowed, only local deliveries or fire recovery related transports. Passenger vehicle through traffic is allowed in the work zones.

• OR 224 is closed to all traffic between milepost 31 and 49. Only fire recovery related traffic is allowed on this highway section due to hazard trees and multiple work zones. This route connects on the east end to Forest Service Road 46, which is also closed.

ODOT is also encouraging drivers to obey posted speed limits, allow extra time for delays caused by wildfire cleanup, and look out for travel hazards like missing guardrails, roadside log decks and slash piles from hazard tree removal, as well as the potential for erosion and falling rocks.

For more commercial freight wildfire information from ODOT, please click here.