‘Sense of Place’ explores Mitchell Point tunnel

“In 1915, a groundbreaking (literally!) and iconic tunnel was constructed in the U.S. Piercing basalt cliffs, the tunnel’s five arched windows were cut from solid rock and offered sweeping views of the main attraction — the Columbia River Gorge,” said a press release. “The original Mitchell Point Tunnel made news headlines across the country and opened the Gorge to the relatively new contraption called the automobile. Soon a steady stream of Model Ts motored through the hairpin turns of the highway and experienced the awe-inspiring scenery for themselves.

“But modern needs eventually took precedence. In 1953 the tunnel was deemed unfit for current transportation methods, closed, and filled. In 1966, to make way for the construction of highway I-84, the tunnel was destroyed,” continued the press release.

“Now, a century after the original Mitchell Point tunnel was built, the Historic Columbia River Highway is being restored. With nearly 73-miles of projects completed, a new Mitchell Point Tunnel remains as one of just three projects needed to fully connect the Historic Highway. Join guests Kevin Price and Tova Peltz as they share the incredible history and feats of engineering behind reviving this highly-anticipated local icon.”

About the speakers

Peltz is a program manager for the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). In her role as ODOT’s Region 1 Project Delivery Manager, she is responsible for developing, overseeing, and implementing ODOT’s capital program in Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, and Hood River counties, at a total present value of about $800M. Over her 15 years at ODOT, Peltz worked as a geotechnical engineer, engineering geologist, and construction project manager. As part of ODOT, she has been a part of restoring the Historic Columbia River Highway, including the iconic Mitchell Point Tunnel. She received her BS from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Geology and her MS from the University of California at Berkeley in Geotechnical Engineer, and was named a Woman of Vision by the Daily Journal of Commerce in 2018 and ASCE Oregon Section’s Government Engineer of the Year in 2017.

Price moved to Oregon in 1976 to attend Eastern Oregon University. He worked on a Hotshot fire crew, for four years, with the U.S. Forest Service and started a 34-year career with Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD), retiring in 2018. During his tenure with OPRD, he was directly associated with and managed Columbia Gorge state parks for 28 years, living in Corbett for 22 of those years. He’s led efforts to increase community engagement across the state and worked to increase education opportunities for students of color and underserved communities to experience the outdoors, and currently serves as the board chair of SOLVE Oregon and continues to help expose students to the wonder of the Columbia Gorge and actively works with Martin Luther King Elementary School, the Oregon State Park Trust (Ticket2Ride program), and Friends’ Great Gorge Wahoo education program with St. Andrews Nativity School.