Salem, Oregon – The Government Camp Rest Area is located near mile marker 54, on US Route US26, (10 miles east of Rhododendron, OR), will be temporarily closed for 10 days starting on September 3, 2024, to allow for parking lot maintenance and upgrades. This project is funded and managed by the Western Federal Lands Highway Division in partnership with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Oregon Travel Information Center also in partnership with the Mt. Hood National Forest, and Timberline Lodge.
Preparation Work:
Beginning the week of August 19, 2024, preparatory work will be conducted in the parking lot. This work includes surveying, installing erosion control devices, and repairing an inlet. During this time, the rest area will remain open, and access will not be impeded.
Closure Details:
During the 10-day closure – Starting September 3, 2024, the following work will be performed:
Asphalt Removal: The existing asphalt will be removed to make way for a new, durable surface.
Reinforcement: Areas of the parking lot will be reinforced with patching and geotextile fabric to improve longevity and stability.
Repaving: The entire parking lot will be repaved, providing a smoother and safer surface for vehicles.
Adjustments: Manholes and inlets will be adjusted to align with the new pavement, ensuring proper drainage and functionality.
Re-striping and Signage: Once repaving is complete, the parking spaces will be re-striped, and new signage will be installed to enhance clarity and accessibility.
Impact on Travelers:
The rest area will be completely closed to the public during this 10-day period. Travelers are advised to plan ahead and make use of alternative rest areas or services in the vicinity. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience as these critical improvements are made.
Project Information:
This project is a collaborative effort to improve the safety and functionality of the Government Camp Rest Area. For more details and updates on the project, please visit the project website: Project Website.
Isamar Escobar
Phone: 202-209-5042
Email: isamar.escobar@dot.gov
About the Office of Federal Lands Highway
The Office of Federal Lands Highway (FLH), of the US Department of Transportation (USDOT), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), was established to promote effective, efficient, and reliable administration for a coordinated program of federal public roads and bridges; to protect and enhance our Nation’s natural resources; and to provide needed transportation access for Native Americans. Our primary purpose is to provide financial resources and transportation engineering assistance for public roads that service the transportation needs of Federal and Indian lands. The FLH provides these services in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and US Territories through our Headquarters, Eastern, Central, and Western Federal Lands Highway Division offices.
Who We Are
FLH is enabled and entrusted to administer many different programs and types of funds to facilitate transportation improvements for our many Federal Land Management Agency Partners such as: the National Park Service (NPS); USDA Forest Service (Forest Service); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS); Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and Tribal Governments; Bureau of Land Management (BLM); Department of Defense (DOD); U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE); and the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR).
Our partners rely upon FLH to solve and manage unique program and project challenges that are wide-ranging in environment, geography and complexity, through engineering solutions that are sensitive to the context of the land. Each Division office provides training, technology deployment, engineering services, and products to an increasing array of customers.
We are often confronted by unique terrain, challenging work restrictions, and uncompromising deadlines. Whether it is building highly visible and political projects, constructing roads that are national landmarks, or providing critical access on rural low-volume transportation facilities, FLH is at the forefront delivering consistently distinct and sound engineering projects.
What We Do
Since the early 1900’s, the Office of Federal Lands Highway (FLH) has assisted its federal land management agency partners in the design and construction of aesthetically pleasing and environmentally sensitive highway and bridge projects. This includes the original planning, design and construction of many roads within our National Parks and National Forests. FLH delivers projects through strong project management from inception to completion, working closely and coordinating constantly with our partners to facilitate delivery. To ensure successful delivery, FLH must apply innovative and diverse solutions to the unique projects we undertake. Context sensitivity, a design philosophy ingrained in our culture, is critical to meeting the unique missions, values and needs of our partners and the public. The FLH works with its partners to build roads that meet the transportation community’s standards while balancing, respecting and protecting the resources in which they are located.
As demonstrated over the last 100 years, FLH continues to be called upon to facilitate a wide variety of complex or non-traditional projects involving new or multiple partners. The Federal public roads we service protect and enhance natural and cultural resources, sustain economic development in rural areas, support recreational travel and tourism, resource management and electric power generation, and provide needed transportation access for Native Americans and Alaska/Pacific Natives. Some roads serve as a critical lifeline to communities such as the Metlakatla Indian Tribe who depend on Walden Point Road near Ketchikan, Alaska. The FLH was asked to lead such regionally significant projects as the construction of the Hoover Dam Bypass over the Colorado River Gorge in Nevada and Arizona and the reconstruction of Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House in the District of Columbia. The FLH also works with the Department of Defense, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation and state departments of transportation to assist with a variety of federal and state projects. Great examples are some of the major projects delivered as part of the Defense Access Road Program. Hawaii’s Saddle Road, an important cross-island link, provides military and public access to a base, as well as to public lands and forest areas. In Virginia Fort Belvoir’s, Mulligan Road Project reopened public roads within the Fort that were closed after the 9/11 terrorist attack. Many FLH projects receive honors and recognition for excellence in design, construction, project management, aesthetics, historic preservation and environmental sensitivity.
About Oregon Travel Information Council
TIC is a semi-independent State of Oregon agency created in the 1970s to operate the highway blue logo sign program following the Highway Beautification Act. We also operate the Oregon Historical Marker and Heritage Tree Programs, and a growing number of rest areas.
We operate staffed rest areas at 25 locations (39 facilities) around Oregon, providing clean, safe and inviting locations that are open and free to use 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And they are used by approximately 15 million people annually, and that doesn’t count all those who use the rest area only to stretch their legs, exercise a pet, or get a cup of free coffee from our non-profit volunteers. We assist travelers with everything from lost keys, wallets and cell phones, to working with Oregon State Police to request safety checks and assist travelers in distress.
Our highway logo signs and information kiosks help direct you to essential services. We point the way not only with signs, but by partnering with local businesses and other agencies to give you the information you need to find restaurants, places to sleep, regional attractions and fueling stations.
Our mission: “OTIC serves Oregon travelers and local communities by providing safe and welcoming rest areas, helpful highway signage, informative historical markers, and heritage tree designations.”
Contact Info:
Contact: Travel Information Council – Heather Peck
Title: Rest Area Program Administrator
Email: heather.peck@tic.oregon.gov