The 12-day closure of the Greensprings Highway for repairs beginning Monday may be inconvenient for customers, but Adam Hanor who, along with his wife, Jennifer, owns the Green Springs Inn, said he's not fretting.

"I'm sure it will affect our business, however it's a project that needs to happen," he said.

The Oregon Department of Transportation will close a portion of the Greensprings Highway, also known as Highway 66, from Monday to Sept. 1 to replace a large culvert and repair what has been an ongoing slide problem near milepost 11.

Hanor said he's used to surprises.

"We're at the whim of tourists, we're at the whim of the economy, we're at the whim of gas prices, we're at the whim of weather, he said. "It's just another thing that happens. We're used to things happening like the power going out."

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He said he's not even bothered by the timing of the project, because if it wasn't summer tourist season, it would be the opening of hunting season, or the holidays, or some other busy time.

"I think the right time to do it is any time they can afford it," he said.

Shawn Stephens, ODOT assistant district manager, said the timing was intentional.

"We're going to have this project done before school starts, that's why we're doing it now," he said.

The closure will start at Buckhorn Springs Road and end at Hyatt Lake Road. Through-traffic between Klamath Falls and Ashland will be detoured using Dead Indian Memorial Road and the Hyatt Lake Access Road, then will reconnect with Highway 66. Local traffic can use Highway 66 past the detour signs at Buckhorn Springs Road and the Hyatt Lake Access Road.

Jeanne Plante, the new co-owner of the Hyatt Lake Resort, said the road closure will help their business.

"As they re-route the cars, they're going to re-route them right past our business," she said. She said she applauds ODOTs decision to entirely close the road and get the work done in two weeks rather than try to preserve a lane of traffic and stretch the project out about two months.

"I think it's a very wise decision on the part of the Department of Transportation," she said.

But Amy Hanscom, a resort employee who handles boat rentals and RV spaces, groans over the prospect.

"It's about a 10- or 15-minute longer drive for me," said Hanscom, who drives to Hyatt Lake from her Medford home. She said it's only about an 8 mile difference, but her commute, which already takes 45 minutes, will increase to an hour.

Stephens said he met with 80 to 100 area residents and business owners, and the biggest concern is how to notify people of the detour. He said message boards and detour signs on Highway 66 near Dead Indian Memorial Road and near Hyatt Lake Access Road will give drivers plenty of warning.

Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail mlanders@mailtribune.com.