September 20, 2020 10:30 a.m.

Due to ongoing firefighting efforts, Oregon 138E, the North Umpqua Highway, will remain closed between Idelyld Park and the junction with Oregon 230 into next week.

An update from the Oregon Department of Transportation said the agency is working with partner agencies to open the highway as quickly as possible, but hazardous conditions persist in several locations.

The Archie Creek Fire continues, complicating efforts to reopen the rest of the Oregon 138E corridor. Over the past several days, ODOT staff has been evaluating damage along the corridor and has begun long-term repair work.

The update said strong winds over Labor Day weekend knocked more than 100 trees into the highway. Many of those trees were enormous, measuring three or more feet in diameter. All of these trees have to be removed from the roadway, though new trees are still falling.

An estimated 2,000 to 10,000 other hazard trees, many burned and dead but still standing, were located along the edge of the highway as of Friday. Staff said even at the most ambitious pace, it may take months to remove them all.

More than 100 of the 225 road signs in this area will have to be replaced. 5 and a half miles of guardrail has been damaged or destroyed along the corridor.

Over 100 slopes,  mostly hillsides within the perimeter of the fires, have been weakened by the fires and are at increased risk of rockslides. These areas will be addressed through the fall, winter and into next year.

ODOT is working to open the highway to at least a single lane as soon as possible. However, the long-term work repairing the fire damage may require pilot cars and flaggers for several months.