Road repairs under way on Hells Canyon Byway

Road closures are making it difficult to do business in Richland, Halfway and Hells Canyon, but a contract is expected to be awarded around the end of next week to repair flood damage to Road 39 of the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway between Halfway and Wallowa Lake.

Debi Bainter, manager of the Baker County Chamber of Commerce, said it’s important to get the word out that the Eagle Valley and Hells Canyon National Recreation Area are open and accessible up to the lower portion of Forest Road 39, which washed out south of the Hells Canyon Overlook in May.

“Getting the word out that the towns of Richland, Halfway, Oxbow, and Hells Canyon are all open for business is the most important message we need to relay,” Bainter said.

 “Our neighbors to the east need our help encouraging visitors to make the drive to the dam, take a jet boat ride on the Snake River, and spend a night at a lodge, motel, or a bed and breakfast,” Bainter said. “There is hiking, Geo-caching, a museum, gift and quilt shops, fishing and boating opportunities, restaurants and least we forget, tranquil moments of peace and quiet in Richland, Halfway and Hells Canyon for our visitors to experience.”

In the meantime, repairs to the washed out section of Road 39 near the Hells Canyon overlook could begin as soon as the second week in August, Judy Wing, a spokeswoman with the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest said Thursday.

“The bidding is expected to close some time next week. Once it is closed, the contractor will begin working,” Wing said.

Wing said work on several other roads in the area damaged in spring flooding have either been completed or progressed far enough to reopen to traffic.

One washout has been repaired, but work is continuing on two washouts and culverts are being replaced, keeping Road 66 the primary alternative bypass around Road 39 at this time.

However, Wing said there is an alternative Road 6625 that people with high-clearance vehicles can take out of Halfway to get around the washout on Road 39 and on to Wallowa Lake.

“There is a way to get through, but it is not a motor home road. It is not a Prius-type of road, but you can take  your four-wheel-drive truck on Road 6625,” Wing said.

Directions to Road 6625 are available from staff at the Forest Service office in Halfway, Wing said.

Bainter said tourism is especially important to the economies of the smaller communities in Baker County.

“We can help make this summer profitable for the Hells Canyon area if we shepherd the traffic down highway 86 toward Richland, Halfway and Hells Canyon,” Bainter said.

A special Hells Canyon Scenic Byway map printed by the Baker City Herald showing the accessibility to Halfway and Hells Canyon as well as the location of the closure on Forest Service Road 39 is available at the Chamber office at 490 Campbell St., Bainter said.

Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Supervisor Steve Ellis said he is pleased with the quick emergency action to provide funding to repair Forest Service Road 39, and several roads damaged by flooding this spring.

“I am pleased with the recent quick release of emergency funds from the Department of Transportation,” Ellis said.  “We are moving ahead with our partners to repair the damage caused by the flooding and provide access for the public.”

The Forest is working with the Federal Highway Administration and Oregon Department of Transportation to begin the repairs to Forest Road 39 (Wallowa Mountain Loop Road), which Ellis said is the highest priority.

Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., wrote letters and made several phone calls to secure emergency federal funds for the repairs. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., also received credit for securing funding for the Road 39 repairs.

Other road work includes:

• Forest Road 7745 (Eagle Creek Road) — Repair work by the Baker County Road Department has been completed, allowing full-size vehicle access to homeowners and the public once again.

• Forest Road 66 (Fish Lake Road) — Repair work has been funded and a contract was awarded, with work expected to be completed by mid-August. Wing said road maintenance work is also under way along the upper section Road 66 from Fish Lake to Lake Creek.

• Forest Road 7785 (North Fork Catherine Creek Road) — Now open to public use, but road construction with heavy equipment will continue through the summer.

Other temporary road closures due to construction or flood damage announced this week in a Forest Service road update include:

• Big Canyon Road (Forest Road 8270) is closed at the junction southeast of Minam off State Highway 82.

• Forest Road 950, located off Catherine Summit southeast of Union, is closed through Aug. 15 for culvert work on Scout Creek.

• Forest Road 4230 (Freezeout Road),  located off the Lower Imnaha River Road, remains closed due to flood damage.

• Eagle Creek Road (Forest Road 77) is closed from approximately 1.25 miles southeast of Tamarack Campground to approximately 1.7 miles northwest of its intersection of Road 745 (East Eagle Road).

• Road 6600 is closed from the southern Forest boundary at the cattle guard and junction of county road 999 for approximately 5.1 miles to its intersection of the 6625 (East Pine Creek).

• Road 7785 (North Fork Catherine Creek Road) is closed from milepost 1.57 (cattle guard) at the Forest boundary to end of the road.