Blalock Port Road

Oregon State Archives: A 1940 Journey Across Oregon

Passing through BLALOCK, 55.4 m. [West of Hwy. 730 Junction] (216 alt., 16 pop.), US 30 threads the narrow gorge through which the Columbia has cut its channel.

May 2014

There may be a fragment at Blalock, though it seems a little steep. There's also an old rock cut west of there that may be old CRH. Mostly, though, it is underwater through the "narrow gorge" mentioned above.

Steve Hart, Upper Columbia River Highway Survey

Blalock Exit

Mile 136.6

July 11, 2020

Kirk and I checked this location out again earlier this spring, and we both agree that the grades on the hill are too steep for this to have ever been the main highway. However, I wonder if it was part of a junction for the Blalock Canyon Road? That would make sense, with the W rails and the level of engineering seen here, westbound and eastbound feeders leading to the road at the top of the grades? Seems plausible. The graveled Blalock Canyon Road dates back to at least 1934, and this would be a feature of the improved US 30.

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