The Oregon Department of Transportation announced on March 17 that OR 229 remains closed between milepost 14 and 15, from Kernville to Siletz, following a major landslide that destroyed a section of the highway in December.
The closure continues to affect local residents and travelers, as there is currently no local detour available between Kernville and Siletz. Travelers are advised to expect longer travel times when using alternate routes. The department has launched a new OR 229 Landslide webpage to provide updates about the situation, including background information on the slide, ongoing monitoring efforts, detour details, and an overview of what will be required to rebuild the highway.
Crews have installed detour signs along designated alternate routes to help guide drivers around the closure. Water remains one of the biggest challenges at the site, with saturated ground conditions limiting safe access and increasing the risk of further movement around the edges of the slide. Engineers and geotechnical experts are working with technical partners to conduct site investigations and monitor slope movement. The team plans to install subsurface monitoring instruments once it is safe enough to do so; these tools will help measure soil and rock shifts below ground as well as track groundwater levels.
The landslide destroyed approximately 1,000 feet of road and is described as extremely complex. In some areas large blocks of soil and rock shifted significantly, while other sections acted more like a debris flow due to high water content. Because instability persists in the area, full on-the-ground access remains unsafe for crews.
Officials say reopening OR 229 will require much more than debris removal; it will involve extensive investigation, design work, funding acquisition, and construction similar in scope to building an entirely new road. The department said it will continue monitoring conditions at the site and provide updates as more information becomes available.
