Mithcell Point Tunnel blasting to begin Oct. 12, expect delays on I-84

From the Oregon Department of Transportation:

Construction delays have delayed blasting required to rebuild the Mitchell Point Tunnell west of Hood River until Tuesday, Oct. 12.​

Beginning Tuesday, Oct. 12 travelers on Interstate 84 between Cascade Locks and Memaloose State Park (east of Mosier) should plan for long delays Tuesday and Thursday mornings for the next four weeks. During rock blasting, rolling slowdowns in both directions of I-84 will be used to create 20-minute windows where there is no traffic.

Above: An artist rendering of the entrance to the future tunnel after construction completion in 2023

Rolling slowdowns are scheduled to start on the mornings of Tuesday, Oct. 12, and Thursday, Oct. 14, between 9-11 a.m. for up to four weeks. The schedule is subject to change.

 Travelers should plan for long delays or travel at an alternate time if possible.

 Check back for updates or visit TripCheck.com.

 What to expect during construction:​

• Travelers should plan for single lane or shoulder closures on I-84 east from Monday mornings through Friday morning. 

• Exit 58 off-ramps will be closed throughout construction. 

• Beginning summer/fall 2021, constructing the new tunnel will require the contractor to use rock blasting, where experts use a carefully calculated amount of explosives to remove rock in a controlled manner. During rock blasting, traffic on Interstate 84 will experience rolling slowdowns and delays.  Whenever possible, we will post schedule updates and send out project emails.​

• Most traffic impacts will occur weekdays. 

Visit TripCheck.com for real-time traffic updates. ​ 

A little History

The Mitchell Point Tunnel opened in 1915 and became a celebrated highlight of the old scenic road. The old tunnel’s alignment was near the 19th-century wagon road. The real attraction, though, wasn’t the history but the presence of five arched windows looking out onto the Columbia River.

Mitchell Point Tunnel circa 1915

But by 1953, the tunnel was too small, too narrow and too hazardous for modern transportation so ODOT closed it, and 13 years later destroyed it to make way for the interstate highway adjacent to the river.

The Bigger View

ODOT and several partners, including U.S. Forest Service, Oregon Parks and Recreation, Friends of the Historic Columbia River Highway, Western Federal Lands, Travel Oregon and others, are restoring all 73 miles of the historic highway, from Troutdale to The Dalles. Some segments are accessible to cars and cyclists. Some segments, known as the Historic Highway State Trail, are accessible only by people walking, rolling or biking. That includes the new Mitchell Point Tunnel.

ODOT broke ground this spring on the tunnel and when construction is complete in 2023, there’ll be a 655-foot tunnel with five arched windows looking out on the river, reminiscent of the original passage. The ODOT team expects the tunnel to become a cherished gem of the State Trail and an attraction for visitors from around the world.

Key Milestones thus far

• ​May 16, 2018: Open House

• May 21, 2018: The Advisory Committee recommended a design alternative for the Mitchell Point Crossing.

• June 13, 2018: The Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission endorsed the design recommendation.

• Through 2020: Design continued on the preferred alternative, which includes a Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area permit. 

• Spring 2021: Construction begins