The Morrow County Road Department has resurfaced 22 miles of the Blue Mountain Scenic Byway, according to an announcement Thursday, July 27, 2023, from the Umatilla National Forest.

HEPPNER — The Morrow County Road Department has completed the chip seal resurfacing on 22 miles of the Blue Mountain Scenic Byway that runs through the Heppner and North Fork John Day ranger districts.

Umatilla National Forest in a press release reported while the chip seal is complete, the road department in August will apply striping to the resurfaced road. During that time, the public can expect periodic delays with flaggers and pilot cars managing traffic. There also will be signs at each end of the project and as needed in work zones.

The Blue Mountain Scenic Byway is a popular 145-mile route that travels from near Arlington to Granite. This road is a major portal to the Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman national forests, offering opportunities for scenic views and recreation. In 2022, contractors chip sealed the portion of road that crosses the North Fork John Day Ranger District (33.6 miles). These chip seal projects reduce risk to public safety, protect the roadway and extend the life of this scenic route for 10-20 years.

The funding for the Blue Mountain Scenic Byway chip seal project is part of a $285 million investment on national forests from the 2020 the Great American Outdoors Act. Nationally, the funds will allow the U.S. Forest Service to implement more than 500 infrastructure improvement projects essential to the continued use and enjoyment of national forests lands this year.

The Umatilla National Forest also received funding to replace the Crooked Creek Trail Bridge on the Pomeroy Ranger District. The installation could occur later this year.

According to the press release, implementing both projects will provide safe and enhanced visitor access through these areas of the Umatilla National Forest. The projects also will support local employment opportunities and strengthen shared stewardship of national forests and grasslands by expanding the Forest Service work with public and private partners.

For more information on projects in the Pacific Northwest Region, visit the regional Great American Outdoors Act website.

Additional information about the Umatilla National Forest is available at www.fs.usda.gov/umatilla.