historic columbia river highway state trail 2021 ......the historic highway reconnection is a...
TRANSCRIPT
Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail 2021 Reconnection Report
The Past
The Future
HOODRIVERHOODRIVER
CASCADELOCKS
CASCADELOCKS
TH
ED
ALL
ES
THE
DA
LLES
TR
OU
TD
ALE
TRO
UTD
ALE
Bonneville State Trail segment:
Bonneville Bonnele State Trail segment:Twin TunnelsBonneville
State Trail segment:Mitchell Point
HOODMOSIER
HOODRIVER
MULTNOMAHFALLS
Columb i a
NOR TH2 mi .0Scale
Driveable
State Tra i l
Future State Tra i l
LEGEND
Driveable segment Dr iveable segmentDr iveable segment
FundedFunded
ConstructionFunding Needed
$35-40 million
M itchell PointTunnel
Viento StatePark
RuthtonParkRuthton
Point
PerhamCreek
Construction Begins in 2021
M itchel lCreek
Construction Begins
in 2022+
Viento State Park To Mitchell Point (funded ─ construction anticipated in 2022)
Mitchell Point Tunnel (funded ─ construction underway!)
Ruthton Point To Hood River (funding needed)
Awaiting Reconnection
1913
Construction begins
Highway dedication
1916 1922
Paving complete to The Dalles
I-84 construction severs Historic Highway
1950s 1986
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act
Historic Highway Advisory Committee formed
1987 1996
Tanner Creek to Eagle Creek
Twin Tunnels Segment (tunnels opened in 1996)Moffett to Tanner Creeks
2000 2009Viento State Park to Starvation Creek & Oneonta Tunnel
John B. Yeon to Moffett
2013 2016Starvation Creek to Lindsey Creek
2019
Wyeth Trailhead to Lindsey Creek
2021Mitchell Point Tunnel groundbreaking
2022
Viento State Park to Mitchell Point project out to bid & construction begins
Construction of Ruthton Point to Hood River (pending funding)
ORIG
INAL
HIG
HWAY
TRAI
L RE
CONN
ECTI
ON
UPCO
MING
Eagle Creek to Cascade Locks
1998 2023+ 2026
Reconnection complete (pending funding)
In 1986, 22 miles of trail awaited reconnection.
Now, just over 1.6 miles need funding to be reconnected.
Reconnection in the making
The iconic Mitchell Point Tunnel was a highlight of the original Historic Highway, but the construction of Interstate 84 destroyed the tunnel. Soon there will be a 655-foot tunnel with five arched windows at Mitchell Point.
At the west entrance to the tunnel, there will be an overlook area. Each tunnel entrance, or portal, will have stone features as shown in the rendering on the front of this report. A plaza is included on the west side of the tunnel with picnic tables, rest and pause areas, an overlook area and an expanded restroom at the trailhead.
Length: 2.7 miles
Schedule: Construction is planned for 2022 and expected to last about two years.
Length: 1.5 miles (with a 655-foot tunnel)
Schedule: Construction begins in early 2021 and is expected to take about two years.
Length: 1.6 miles
Schedule: Design remains in early stages as we pursue funding opportunities for construction. Some investigation and exploration work is anticipated to take place soon.
Just west of the City of Hood River, a section of the Historic Highway with world-class views of the Columbia River Gorge awaits reconnection as part of the Historic Highway State Trail.
This trail segment will extend eastward from Mitchell Point on Mitchell Point Drive, cross underneath I-84, and proceed east to Hood River. We will build a trail on the north side of I-84 to connect with Ruthton Park, including restoring a section of original Historic Highway.
This segment of trail connects the existing Historic Highway State Trail at the Viento Trailhead to Mitchell Point and includes reconnecting 0.67 miles of original sections of the Historic Highway.
The project includes upgrades to the Viento Trailhead and improvements to the South Viento State Park Campground, including a new restroom.
This segment of trail will have two bridges across Perham and Mitchell Creeks with a similar design to recent projects.
Arthur Babitz, Chair Hood River County
Wayne Stewart, Vice-ChairMultnomah County Representative Leti Valle MorettiHood River County Representative, Governor Appointee Judy DavisWasco County Representative
Francie Royce Wasco County, Governor Appointee
Ernest Drapela Multnomah County, Governor Appointee Christine Curran State Historic Preservation Office
Scott BrickerTravel Oregon
Clay Courtright Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
Rian WindsheimerOregon Department of Transportation
Historic Columbia River Highway Advisory Committee Project Partners:
Remember We remember the high-quality design and aesthetics of the Historic Columbia River Highway and strive to create new segments of the State Trail in the same vein. Constructed between 1913 and 1922, the Historic Columbia River Highway overcame all odds. This road would lay lightly on the land and take its users to the most beautiful spots and breathtaking vistas of the Columbia River Gorge.
RestoreWe strive to restore existing segments and utilize the 100+ year old facility hand-crafted by the original road engineers/visionaries. In the early 1950s, many miles of the Historic Columbia River Highway were damaged or destroyed to pave the way for Interstate 84. The passage of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act in 1986 motivated the Oregon State Legislature to commit to restore the entire Historic Highway to its glory days of the 1920s.
ReconnectOur 35-year goal is to reconnect and create a continuous Historic Columbia River Highway between Troutdale and The Dalles for everyone’s transportation and recreation use. Some segments are accessible to cars and cyclists. Some segments, known as the Historic Highway State Trail, will be accessible only by people walking, rolling or biking.
ReviveThe Historic Highway reconnection is a central component to reviving communities in the Gorge that were impacted by I-84 construction. More recently, the State Trail plays a roll to revive wildfire and COVID-impacted communities.
www.historichighway.org
Top: Rendering of Mitchell Point parking lot. Bottom: A view of Mitchell Point today from existing parking lot.
For Americans with Disabilities Act or Civil Rights Title VI accommodations, translation/ interpretation services, or more information call 503-731-4128, TTY 800-735-2900 or Oregon Relay Service 7-1-1.