The Oregon Department of Transportation has indefinitely closed the park-and-ride lot next to Highway 22.
ODOT officials said the lot was closed Jan. 15, with the transportation agency reacting to concerns about littering and vandalism that were raised by city officials in Stayton and Sublimity.’
“The closure followed ongoing issues at the site, including illegal camping and dumping, as well as challenges associated with ODOT’s ability to routinely monitor and maintain the facility,” ODOT public information officer Mindy McCartt told The Canyon Weekly.
ODOT has deployed large concrete blocks to block off the entrance to the lot, which was used both by commuters and those carpooling to recreation opportunities in the Santiam Canyon and beyond.
Although there is no timetable for ODOT to review the decision, McCartt said the agency “will continue to coordinate with local partners regarding the site and will evaluate future use if conditions change.”
