Forest Service Road 42 in Ochoco National Forest set to close for months-long upgrades

Published 8:57 am Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Beginning as early as Monday, May 23, a section of the popular Forest Service Road 42 through the Ochoco National Forest will be closed through November.

The project will include rebuilding the asphalt base and then repaving, to improve road conditions and safety.

The 42 road will be closed from the intersection with Forest Service Road 4210 to the intersection with Forest Service Road 30. A detour route north on FSR 4210 to FS 22 along the north end of Big Summit Prairie and along FSR 3010 and FSR 30 will be signed.

The roads designated for the detour include single lane roads with pull outs and steep grades. The detour routes may not be suitable for larger vehicles, due to the narrower roads and turning radius. The Post-Paulina Highway can also be used to access the eastern Ochoco National Forest.

In addition, contractors will be patching asphalt on another section of Road 42 near the Ochoco Ranger Station. Flaggers will be limiting traffic to a single lane between the Ranger Station and FSR 4210, which will likely cause delays. This road maintenance will occur periodically throughout the summer season.

This asphalt repair and repaving work on FSR 42 is being completed with funds from the Great American Outdoors Act, which was passed in 2020.