The eastbound lanes of Interstate 84 along the Columbia River Gorge could be open as early as Sunday evening or Monday morning.
But Oregon Department of Transportation spokesman Don Hamilton said for about a mile at Shellrock Mountain it’ll remain closed — with one eastbound lane transferring over to the westbound lane.
“We’ve got some continuing problems up on that hillside right there," Hamilton said. "We need to move the east bound traffic farther away from the hillside.”
Those problems include falling rocks, mudslides and trees that were damaged in the Eagle Creek Fire, which still have the potential to fall onto the highway.
The diversion will remain in place at mile post 52 for the foreseeable future.
The Eagle Creek Fire, which ripped through the gorge earlier this month, is expected to be completely contained by Sept. 30.
Copyright 2017 Oregon Public Broadcasting
