A firefighter stands on Interstate 84, which has been closed because of the Eagle Creek Fire.
Kristian Foden-Vencil / OPB
The eastbound lanes of Interstate 84 re-opened Saturday, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation.
The eastbound lanes of the highway have been closed from Troutdale to Hood River since Sept. 4 because of the Eagle Creek Fire burning in the Columbia River Gorge.
Shellrock Mountain near milepost 52 remains an area of concern for fire crews and transportation officials. ODOT spokesperson Don Hamilton said the area is "still presenting some significant issues in terms of slides and trees and fire."
The agency will reroute traffic into one of the westbound lanes for a little more than a mile near Shellrock for the foreseeable future.
ODOT warned I-84 could close again at any time if conditions change. There remains a high risk for landslides in many parts of the gorge and officials have said drivers could see issues throughout the rainy season.
But Hamilton said fire containment and cleanup efforts have progressed to a point where officials deemed the highway safe to re-open.
"We wouldn't get this thing open if we didn't know it was safe," Hamilton said. "But this is still an active fire."
The Eagle Creek Fire has burned more than 48,000 acres as of Friday. Complete containment is expected by Sept. 30.