Hatfield West Trailhead to Twin Tunnels

Page Index

• Mark O. Hatfield West Trailhead
• Hatfield West Trailhead to S-Curves
• Koberg Beach Wayside
• S-Curves & Inspiration Point
• Inspiration Point to County Line
• Hood River-Mosier Forest Wayside
• County Line Overlook To Twin Tunnels

Robert W. Hadlow, Columbia River Highway Historic District, National Historic Landmark Nomination

The state highway department abandoned this section in the early 1950s when the water-level route opened... The portion to the Hood River County—Wasco County line became a county road, serving residences and several gravel pits. With closure of this portion of the old road in the mid-1950s, the right-of-way in Wasco County to HMP 73.1, including the Mosier Twin Tunnels (HMP 72) reverted to surrounding private landowners.

In 1954, the OSHD abandoned the highway’s Mosier Twin Tunnel section, with the right-of-way reverting to adjacent landowners. From 1987 onward, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has reacquired ownership of this entire section of the CRH from Hood River to Mosier.

ODOT, Restoration of the Historic Columbia River Highway, Hood River to Mosier Segment: Expanded Construction Narrative (2000)

In 1987, the Oregon Legislature created the Historic Columbia River Highway Advisory Committee (HCRHAC), to advise the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) regarding restoration work on the Historic Highway. The committee identified the section of Historic Highway between Hood River and Mosier as the highest priority to reopen. After years of design development, construction started in 1995.

This narrative will highlight the construction phase of six different projects within this section of the Historic Highway, while at the same time attempting to explain the "full story" of restoring the Historic Highway between Hood River and Mosier into a State Trail. Even though many of the projects overlapped, they will be described separately.

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