Oregon Highway 230 reopens with chain requirement

Oregon Highway 230 (West Diamond Lake Highway) reopened to traffic Sunday afternoon with a chain requirement, more than a week after heavy snow and downed trees forced several roads’ closure, ODOT officials said.

ODOT and contract falling crews worked to reopen the highway since it was closed Saturday , Dec. 12, due hundreds of downed trees and deep snow.

Oregon Hwy. 138E reopened Thursday , but Hwy. 62 leading into the west side of Crater Lake National Park remains closed, officials said.

Motorist in the High Cascades are still warned to expect and be ready to drive in severe winter driving conditions. At the opening Sunday afternoon, chains were required for vehicles over 10,000 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight and those vehicles towing.

On the High Desert, numerous slide-offs were reported as Sunday’s return of snowfall made for slick streets in Bend and to the south.

A storm spotter near La Pine reported five inches new snow from the storm before it ended in the early afternoon; areas to the north had lesser amounts.

Among the trouble spots were South Century Drive and Vandevert Road, and earlier Cottonwood Road in Sunriver.