Reminiscent of last year, spring snows delayed early work on the Oregon
Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) “U.S. 26 Mt. Hood Highway Safety
and Preservation Project,” which will expand the highway and add a 1.6-mile
concrete median barrier to prevent crossover accidents.

Kimberly Dinwiddie, ODOT Community Affairs, noted the contractor, K&E
Excavating, was able to get out during the week of spring break to do some
work without any lane closures, including drilling on the hillside of Map Curve
(west of the runaway truck ramp).

Dinwiddie noted that workers were expected to re-stripe the highway to one
lane in each direction as soon as the weather would allow.

“We’re already behind with the delays from the weather,” she said. “We want
to take the first dry window we can to get that re-striped.”

The first blast of the final season for the project is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 5, conditions permitting. The blast will close the highway for no
more than one hour.

Dinwiddie added the schedule for the project is “aggressive” and that the
contractor has ways to get back on schedule, including possibly working on
Saturdays and performing work during the night.

“We’re confident we’ll be able to catch up,” she said.

Dinwiddie also noted she has attended community meetings, including the
Rhododendron Community Planning Organization and is scheduled to talk at
the Mount Hood Area Chamber of Commerce meeting on Tuesday, April 5.
She reported that people have expressed similar sentiments about the project
scheduled to wrap up this fall.

“So far, everybody is happy that this is our final year of construction,”
Dinwiddie said.

For more information, please visit us26mthoodsafety.org and tripcheck.com. early work on the Oregon
Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) “U.S. 26 Mt. Hood Highway Safety
and Preservation Project,” which will expand the highway and add a 1.6-mile
concrete median barrier to prevent crossover accidents.

Kimberly Dinwiddie, ODOT Community Affairs, noted the contractor, K&E
Excavating, was able to get out during the week of spring break to do some
work without any lane closures, including drilling on the hillside of Map Curve
(west of the runaway truck ramp).

Dinwiddie noted that workers were expected to re-stripe the highway to one
lane in each direction as soon as the weather would allow.

“We’re already behind with the delays from the weather,” she said. “We want
to take the first dry window we can to get that re-striped.”

The first blast of the final season for the project is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 5, conditions permitting. The blast will close the highway for no
more than one hour.

Dinwiddie added the schedule for the project is “aggressive” and that the
contractor has ways to get back on schedule, including possibly working on
Saturdays and performing work during the night.

“We’re confident we’ll be able to catch up,” she said.
Dinwiddie also noted she has attended community meetings, including the
Rhododendron Community Planning Organization and is scheduled to talk at
the Mount Hood Area Chamber of Commerce meeting on Tuesday, April 5.

She reported that people have expressed similar sentiments about the project
scheduled to wrap up this fall.

“So far, everybody is happy that this is our final year of construction,”
Dinwiddie said.

For more information, please visit us26mthoodsafety.org and tripcheck.com.