Guide
Road closures on 101, 42, 42S, 38 and 199
Checked September 11, 2026 against the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), TripCheck and Caltrans.
The Highways tile repeats what ODOT reports on TripCheck for the five roads in and out of this coast: US 101 from Reedsport to the California line, OR 42 from Coos Bay to I-5, OR 42S from Coquille to Bandon, OR 38 from Reedsport to I-5, and US 199 from the California line to Grants Pass.
If ODOT has closed a road, do not let your phone route you around it. ODOT warns that navigation apps may send you onto remote roads that are not maintained or passable, and says that if you do not know the area and current conditions, stay on state roads and don’t attempt alternate routes. It is better to stay the night in town than to be stuck on a remote road.
What the tile says
- Closed. ODOT has listed the incident as a closure, or its description says the road is closed. When ODOT’s wording is unclear, the board leans toward calling it a closure: the long way round costs an hour, and the other mistake sends someone into a slide.
- Chains. The report mentions chains or traction tires. That can be anything from “carry chains” to chains on every vehicle, so read the line under it, and see the chain rules below.
- Delay. Anything else ODOT reports: roadwork, a crash, a lane closed. Closures and chains are always shown in full; after three delays the rest are folded into a count.
- Nothing reported. TripCheck listed no closures, slides or chain requirements on these five roads when the board last checked, and the tile says when that was. TripCheck’s own reports work the same way: highways with no adverse conditions do not show up. If the board could not reach TripCheck it says so instead, and never shows that as open.
Slide season
ODOT says landslides are most common in winter, when heavy rain soaks the soil on unstable slopes, and that rockfall is also common in freezing weather. It names US 101 and the coastal mountain passes among the roads most prone to slides. Its advice: check the route on TripCheck before you go, and if a slide is affecting a route, use the recommended detour. If ODOT gives a detour, look for it in the incident on TripCheck; the tile shows ODOT’s own incident text under each row.
Chains and traction tires
When chains are needed, ODOT posts signs or lighted message signs. ODOT’s chain law page describes four, in this order (the short names are ours):
| In short | What ODOT says it means |
|---|---|
| Carry | You must have chains or traction tires in or on your vehicle, the right size and enough of them. |
| Chains: towing, or heavy single axle | Vehicles rated 10,000 lb or less that are towing must use chains, and so must any single drive axle vehicle over 10,000 lb. |
| Chains: towing, or any heavy vehicle | Any vehicle towing or rated over 10,000 lb must use chains. |
| Chains or traction tires: everyone | As above, and every other vehicle must use chains or traction tires. |
Some four-wheel and all-wheel drive passenger vehicles are exempt, but only if they meet all of ODOT’s conditions, including carrying chains and not towing. ODOT also says that in very bad winter conditions all vehicles may be required to use chains, and that it can impose a conditional closure on any state highway for certain vehicle types. Ignoring a chain sign is a traffic infraction.
US 199 is two states
From Brookings, the way to I-5 by US 199 runs south on US 101 into California and up 199 to the state line before it is back in Oregon. TripCheck, and this board, cover the Oregon part. For the California part, check Caltrans: QuickMap, road conditions by highway number, or 1-800-427-7623.
Checking by phone
In Oregon, dial 511 for the same information TripCheck shows. If 511 does not connect, ODOT’s toll-free line is 800-977-6368; from outside Oregon, 503-588-2941. For an emergency on the road, call 911.
Sources
- ODOT TripCheck (the feed the board reads) and its Southwest Oregon road conditions report
- TripCheck, Oregon chain law and minimum chain requirements
- TripCheck, 511
- ODOT, landslides, debris flows and rockfalls
- ODOT, GPS navigation tips and Know before you go
- Caltrans QuickMap and Caltrans highway conditions