Scenic gateway planned

The east end of Sisters will have a vastly different look, with the completion of a Forest Service project at the intersection of Highways 20 and 242.

As part of the National Forest Scenic Byway program, an interpretive portal will be developed for the McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway.

The "East Portal" will mark the byway's eastern gateway and will be located just inside the Sisters city limits.

The project went to bid in April, and work could begin as early as June 1.

The portal will include an interpretive kiosk and public restrooms as well seven automobile and two RV parking spaces.

Forming a triangle between the two highways, Hood Avenue will extend north across Highway 242 to Highway 20; the portal will lie inside the triangle.

PMR DevCo, developers of Pine Meadow Ranch, will fund the Hood Avenue extension up to the portal entrance, as well as a link to Threewind Shopping Center and a left turn lane from northbound Highway 20 into the portal.

A deceleration lane from south Highway 20 will be funded by the Forest Service.

According to Sisters Ranger District Lands forester Rick Dustin, portal project dollars came from the federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA - pronounced "ice tea").

The project was awarded to the Deschutes and Willamette National Forests three to four years ago and funded the Mt. Washington viewpoint, Sahalie Falls improvements and pullouts on the McKenzie River in addition to the East Portal.

The West Portal currently lies in McKenzie Bridge, just west of the intersection of Highways 242 and 126.

This facility has shared functions with the McKenzie Ranger Station since 1993 and will also see redevelopment in the near future.

Stacey Smith, Project Leader for the McKenzie Ranger District, predicts increased visitor use of the West Portal "as the McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway is the target of national media and marketing efforts."

For more information on the East Portal or the McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway, call Rick Dustin at the Sisters Ranger District: 549-2111.