Two snow slides close Highway 20

Jan 31,2008 00:00 by Cheryl McDermott & BWNS

Oregon Department of Transportation crews closed U.S. Highway 20 between mileposts 75 and 80 this morning. The Santiam Pass areas between Camp Sherman and Detroit were hit with two snow slides and have reportedly trapped two trucks between them.

About 6:30 a.m., January 31, two separate slides at mileposts 78.7 and 79.4 necessitated the closures. “No vehicles have been reported stuck within either slide,” ODOT reported, but added that they have received reports of two trucks that are blocked between the slides.

ODOT crews say they don’t know how long the closure will remain in affect, but advise motorists to avoid traveling through the Cascade passes today due to the expected heavy snowfall.

“Other conditional closures are possible if conditions worsen,” they stated.