Avalanche Closes Oregon Highway for Second Time Today

A similar avalanche earlier trapped several cars at about 6:00 AM.

Santiam Pass Image courtesy: ODOT

(SANTIAM JUNCTION, Ore. ) - For the second time today, a slide has closed U.S. 20 at mile post 79 near the Santiam Pass. Approximately 80 feet of the roadway was covered with snow. The highway has been CLOSED along the slide area.

No estimate for opening is immediately available. The slide happened shortly after noon about five miles east of the highway's junction with Highway 22, Oregon Department of Transportation officials said.

Updates will be posted as crews assess the extent of the slide.

A similar avalanche earlier trapped several cars at about 6:00 AM. The cars were quickly removed, and the road reopened two hours later.

About a foot of snow fell in the area overnight and two more feet of snow is expected over the next 24 hours.

Stay with Salem-News.com for more information on this story as soon as it becomes available.