ODOT snowblowers to prep Hwy. 242 for more repair work

Faced with removing tons of snow before post-Milli Fire repair work can continue, Oregon Department of Transportation crews have moved snowblowing equipment to state Highway 242 (the Old McKenzie Highway) west of Sisters to begin the process of clearing the highway.

The repairs in question are from damage done by the 2017 Milli fire that consumed 24,000 acres of forestland.

The Federal Highway Administration has provided ODOT with about $800,000 to repair guardrails and culverts and to repave segments that were damaged by fire that crossed onto the highway,

Maintenance crews were able to make some repairs to the highway toward the end of last summer, but winter weather put a halt to those activities, ODOT Region 4 spokesman Peter Murphy said.

Crews began Monday to plow out the lower portion of the highway on the eastern side (Sisters) from the gate to about Windy Point. Following that, work crews will begin repairs.

Once the lower segment of the highway has been cleared, snow removal will continue above Windy Point to Dee Wright Observatory in the normal process of clearing one lane to let the snow melt out.

When maintenance crews work on the highway, Monday through Thursday, they will post “no entry” signs advising of the danger to potential users, including cyclists. All users are advised that they use the highway at their own risk until ODOT formally opens it later this season.