Fall Colors Oneonta Gorge Tunnel
by Wes and Dotty Weber
Title
Fall Colors Oneonta Gorge Tunnel
Artist
Wes and Dotty Weber
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
This image was taken in 2012 during one of the beautiful falls in the Columbia River Gorge.
The Oneonta Gorge Tunnel was built in 1914. The 200 foot high basaltic bluff created an issue for the construction of Route 30 as it could only proceed via a tunnel. The crews preserved the thin outer edge of the cliff face by very carefully blasting their way through the rock. By 2015 the Oneonta Gorge Bridge was and ready for traffic.
The tunnel was not without problems due to the amount of moisture and winters with freezing and thawing cycles. The bridge was abandoned and the tunnel back-filled.
Sixty years passed before a bike and walking path was created using the bridge and tunnel. A restoration project reopened the 125 foot tunnel. The original supporting timbers was recreated and the rock entrance surround replaced. The four span concrete bridge, with its cap and arch guardrail was a popular section to the historic Columbia River Highway. A grand reopening in 2009 dedicated this walking-biking trail section.
All of this has changed drastically after a very hot, dry summer in the state of Oregon. Many people had gone to the Columbia River Gorge to escape the heat on a hot August Labor Day weekend. On a very iconic trail called Eagle Creek Trail that leads to a beautiful spot called Punchbowl Falls an avoidable event took place which I won't comment on here other than to say a forest fire began due to human stupidity. The fire began on Saturday, September 2, 2017.
As of today, September 19th the fire is only 46% contained and is over 46,000 acres. Cooler temperatures and rain is slowing down the progression of this horrible incident. The historic highway remains closed and only west bound traffic on the I-84 freeway opened a few days ago.
The horrible scars left by the devastation caused by a human's blatant lack of respect for nature will take a long time to heal.
Uploaded
September 19th, 2017
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