Nestled into the Siskiyou mountain range in Southern Oregon between Ashland and the California border, there will soon be a new over-the-freeway crossing. But this overpass won’t be for vehicles, and the only “foot traffic” allowed will be animals.
Oregon’s two U.S. Senators, Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, worked diligently to procure funding from the Inflation Reduction Act to improve safety along the I-5 corrider in this region.
A brief article by Southern Oregon’s local news station, KTVL News, recently announced the new overpass, and further research has provided additional details.
Known as the Siskiyou Pass, the stretch of Interstate 5 between Northern California and Southern Oregon, sits at the 4,300 foot elevation and is commonly referred to as the most hazardous stretch of road along the entire length of I-5, which runs from the Canadian border all the way to the Mexican border.
The scenery is breathtaking as one travels through the Siskiyous, but drivers beware.
The gradient leading up to the Summit, and the subsequent descent on the other side, is 6%. There are scores of two- and three-trailer trucks that maneuver the multitude of curves along with passenger vehicles, so to take your eye off the road for even a moment can prove ill advised.