The Oregon Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) “U.S. 26 Mt. Hood
Highway Safety and Preservation Project” officially ended last October, but
further cleanup will be needed in April after paving work did not pass the final
inspection. Kimberly Dinwiddie, ODOT Community Affairs, noted the
contractor who performed the work, Oregon Mainline Paving, has been
directed to grind out and repave two stretches of Hwy. 26: one 300-foot
stretch in the eastbound left lane near the truck ramp and a few locations in
the westbound travel lanes between the ramp and Government Camp.

“We apologize that we have to come out and redo this work, however it’s
important to the people who paid for this work ... that we have the contractor
do this work right,” Dinwiddie said, adding that the work (which will be
weather dependant) will likely be performed during the day with lane closures
and flaggers, but not require delays like in the past summers. “This time of
year, we see spring snow, so we’re going to be planning around weather in
this case.”

ODOT also selected the contractor for the RealTime signs project, Legacy
Contracting from Stayton, Ore., which will install electronic signs that offer up
to the minute traffic information and advisories, including road conditions and
travel times between destinations. Some preliminary work on the signs was
included in the safety project, but work this year is not expected to start until
May or June.

Installation of the signs will likely include shoulder closures and intermittent
lane closures.

“It’s going to be pretty low key,” Dinwiddie said.

Dinwiddie added that ODOT has plans to place more signage and reflective
poles around the center barrier that was installed as part of the safety project
to warn drivers. Signage is expected to be installed this spring, and it will
include a flashing light to be visible at night and during snowy conditions.

Dinwiddie also noted that ODOT is also trying to figure out a heating system
for the new signage.