The scenic McKenzie Pass is opening about 5 weeks earlier this season, compared to last year. Highway 242 officially opens to motorists on Thursday. "It should be available to them on Thursday, some question about time, I'm told 8 o'clock, so prepare to go.” ODOT's Peter Murphy says drivers still need to be careful and watch for cyclists and pedestrians also using the curvy road. The scenic highway is closed during the winter because the highway is covered with snow. Last year there was so much snow that crews didn't open the highway until July 29th, the latest opening ever.