September 22, 2020 6:00 p.m. 

Oregon 138E, the North Umpqua Highway, is set to reopen at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday.

A 62-mile section of the highway has been closed for two weeks due to the Archie Creek and Thielsen fires.

Dan Latham from the Oregon Department of Transportation said for the next few weeks, the highway will be reduced to a single lane in some areas between Swiftwater Park and the Oregon 230 junction. Latham said this will allow workers to remove hazards, address fire damage and assist in firefighting operations.

The update said pilot cars and flaggers will provide 24-hour traffic control at each location. Motorists traveling the length of the corridor can expect delays of up to 45 minutes. Visibility conditions may change quickly and many roadside hazards persist. Latham said motorists are advised to drive with caution at a speed that is appropriate for road conditions.

Due to the potential hazards, drivers are asked to stay in their vehicles and avoid pulling over and stopping.

Despite the highway reopening, the Umpqua National Forest and the Bureau of Land Management lands, including all recreation areas between Glide and Diamond Lake, remain closed to the public.

Latham said ODOT and partner agencies will need months to address the damage from the two fires. An estimated 7,000 to 10,000 hazard trees will need to be removed. The fire destroyed 100 of 255 road signs, damaged five and a half miles of guardrail and affected more than 100 slopes, increasing the potential for rock slides over the winter.