It's a shame about SR-242; it's really the way I would have chosen. The quoted article is about two months old, so you could check with ODOT and find out what the current status is.
Like others have said, the trick is to decide which mountain pass you're going to go over. I don't like US-26 too much. US-20 has decent shoulders, even if it is quite busy.
Originally Posted by
Bill Kapaun
http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/REGIO...5-13-08a.shtml
".... During the bridge replacement project, which will cost about $800,000, no vehicle or bicycle traffic will be allowed on the west side of the McKenzie Pass for safety reasons. Officials hope to open the west side of the highway for traffic by Sept. 1....."