Historic Hood River
“Proceed on Green Light”
10-2-2026
Notes
Our friends at ODOT have provided this view of the west portal of the Mitchell Point tunnel in the days when it was signalized. The sign says “Proceed on Green Light.” According to ODOT, “They probably used a service station hose to activate the signal. Eastbound cars had a continuous green until a westbound car drove over the hose and activated the signal. That was the set up at Mosier because rockfall west of the tunnels was so frequent.”
We don’t know exactly when the signals were added, but the tunnel was really only wide enough for two Model T’s, and then only if they were driving slowly. The highway attracted commercial traffic which struggled to squeeze through the narrow passageway.
Dale Nicol
Great photo of the car on a road trip.
The car looks like a 1937 vintage, Chevy 4 door sedan that is fully loaded and a luggage bag tied to the rear bumper.
Arthur Babitz
Our friends at ODOT tracked down a May 1935 newspaper clipping describing the intent to install “stop and go” lights at the Mitchell Point Tunnel. The reasoning was interesting. Rather than citing the narrowness, they explain the curvature of the roof forces trucks to the center of the tunnel so only one vehicle can pass. They say the lights will be similar to ones in Portland intersections.