Western Federal Lands Highway Division

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Project Overview

A two-season construction project to restore the Crown Point Viaduct at Vista House and portions of the Historic Columbia River Highway began in mid-July 2012. The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of May 2013, with the potential for construction to continue through mid-June. Closures and traffic delays are necessary due to the complexity of the repairs and the challenging work environment in the Columbia River Gorge. The Federal Highway Administration, Western Federal Lands Highway Division, is working with the Oregon Department of Transportation and the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department to minimize travel impacts to Vista House visitors and other users of the Historic Highway.

The Vista House building itself will not be involved in the project as it underwent a five-year restoration completed in 2005.

Driving restrictions on the Historic Columbia River Highway between Larch Mountain Road and Latourell Falls include:

• March - April 14, 2013: Periodic lane closures with traffic delays of up to 30 minutes. Vista House will be open daily, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.
• April 15 - May 23, 2013: The highway will be closed to all pedestrians and vehicles, including bicycles. Vista House will be closed.
• May 24, 2013 - 12 am to Noon: Periodic lane closures with traffic delays of up to 30 minutes. Vista House will be open at 9:00 am.
• Memorial Day Weekend: May 24 (Noon) to May 27 (Midnight), 2013: There will be no traffic restrictions and Vista House will be open daily, 9:00 am - 6:00 pm.
• May 28 - Mid-June, 2013: Periodic single lane closures with traffic delays of up to 30 minutes. Vista House will be open daily, 9:00 am - 6:00 pm.

The Crown Point Viaduct is an approximately 600-foot-long concrete structure located on the Historic Columbia River Highway adjacent to Vista House within the boundaries of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The purpose of this structure is to carry the highway around the rock formation at Crown Point which was a serious obstacle to its construction in 1914. It includes a seven-foot-wide sidewalk, a foundation wall along the inside of the viaduct, and 29 support columns.

Nearly one hundred years old, the viaduct structure and retaining walls are deteriorating. If left unrepaired, the structure and walls could fail and have significant safety impacts, as well as result in loss of this historic structure. Without restoring and repairing the viaduct, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) would most likely need to impose weight restrictions for vehicles, which could prevent buses, RVs and other large vehicles from traveling the Historic Columbia River Highway and accessing Crown Point. Restriction of access to the historic highway and Crown Point would have significant adverse affects on the local and regional economy.

While the focus of the project is rehabilitation of the Crown Point Viaduct, the project area includes restoration of portions of Historic Columbia River Highway between Larch Mountain Road and Crown Point and between Crown Point and Latourell Falls. The historic highway is one of only two roads in the United States designated as a National Historic Landmark, a National Scenic Byway, and a National Historic District. Vista House at Crown Point was recently remodeled and no additional improvements to it are proposed as part of the viaduct restoration project.

Crown Point Viaduct Project Elements

The proposed restoration includes:

1. Repair or replacement of viaduct columns and footings and reinforcement of structure edge beams;
2. Repair and strengthening of the bottom of the viaduct deck;
3. Repair of cracks in the top of the viaduct deck and parapet;
4. Restoration of viaduct light fixtures and updating of electrical components;
5. Repair of the masonry retaining wall beneath the viaduct structure and repair of the failing section of roadway;
6. Restoration of the original curb height at the viaduct;
7. Milling of the existing road pavement to reduce edge drop-offs, restoration of the historic gutter and placing a new pavement overlay throughout the limits of the project area;
8. Restoration of guard rocks at three historic wall sites; and
9. Rehabilitation of the rehabilitation of the upper west parking lot at Crown Point.

The viaduct restoration will be designed to maintain the original appearance as much as practical. Due to its historical nature, replacement of the structure is not considered an option because rehabilitation options are available. The rehabilitated structure and retaining walls will have a color and texture similar to the weathered original existing structure to the extent practical.

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