Old McKenzie Pass to open on July 4th

Construction crews have been hard at work on the east side of the Old McKenzie Pass and plan to have the highway above the gate paved and open by the morning of July 4th.

Only the east side of the pass had been under construction, but the west side will also remain closed at the gate just beyond Linton Lake until July 4th. According to the Oregon Dept. of Transportation, limited space for vehicles to turn around on the west side made it unsafe to open any further towards the summit.

After the freshly paved pass opens above the gate, some work will continue, like striping, putting up signage, and cleanup activities that may cause minor delays.

Paving on the east side section of the highway below the gate will continue through July and could also cause some delays. Unlike the upper highway, this section is wide enough to accommodate traffic and construction equipment with single-lane closures and flaggers.