Very early Monday morning, January 9th, the Oregon Department of Transportation closed a section of Highway 101 north of Ophir before Prehistoric Gardens approximately 12 miles south of Port Orford, after a 200 yard segment of Highway 101 dropped several feet beneath the original road surface and continued to slowly slide throughout the day.
According to a recent update from the Oregon Department of Transportation, one lane of U.S. Hwy. 101 is expected to reopen by Friday afternoon, January 13th, to all traffic.
With the forecast rain over the next 48 hours, weather could disrupt this schedule, slowing work to construct the temporary lane through the collapsed area of highway. There also remains the possibility that heavy rain may saturate the ground, increasing slide movement again.
Traffic will be flagged through a single lane and motorists should expect delays and slower speeds through this area when the lane reopens and traffic resumes.
Contractors and Oregon Department of Transportation personnel are closely monitoring the landslide, and will continue to do so as the temporary lane opens. If more slide activity is observed, the highway may need to closed again with short notice
