Sinkhole Oregon
© ODOTThe sinkhole on Highway 22.
(Update) The driver of the vehicle that encountered the sinkhole early this morning was not injured. He was driving a hay truck for Jenck Farms, of Tillamook, and managed to avoid landing in the hole, but did end up with the vehicle in a nearby ditch, according to Michelle Jenck, Jenck Farms co-owner. The truck is heavily damaged.

Oregon Highway 22, also known as the Three Rivers Highway or - by locals - "the Sour Grass," is closed until further notice owing to a sinkhole located about 2.5 miles east of the Dolph Junction and roughly 12 miles east of Hebo and the U.S. Highway 101 intersection.

Early reports indicate the hole is roughly 5 feet wide and 4 feet deep and affects both lanes. A vehicle narrowly avoided landing in it about 1 a.m. this morning, Tuesday, Dec. 8. It is unknown at this time if the driver was injured. A detour to Grand Ronde and the Willamette Valley is available via U.S. Highway 101 south to Lincoln City, and then east via Oregon Highway 18, the Salmon River Highway.

The Oregon Department of Transportation reported that the road will be closed long-term as it will need to be rebuilt. Local traffic can access points on either side of the closure but through traffic will need to use OR 18 as an alternate route, according to ODOT.

A sinkhole disrupted traffic in Gresham yesterday - yet another sign that the rain-soaked region is showing the effects of excessive moisture in a short span of time.

Nearby Oregon Highways 130, the Little Nestucca Highway, and 153, the Bellevue-Hopewell Highway, are also closed owing to high water. Highway 130 which runs between Oretown and Dolph, is closed about 1 mile east of the intersection with U.S. Highway 101, while Highway 153 is closed one mile east of the intersection with Highway 18.

In Tillamook, U.S. Highway 101 remains closed between downtown and Fred Meyer, with a detour established via Latimer Road coming from the north and Third Street-to-Highway 6-to Wilson River Loop Road North-South, coming from the south. Highway 6 is closed 1 mile east of downtown Tillamook, but open where the detour route intersects.