Winter’s lower snowfall seemed like a boon for the Oregon Department of
Transportation’s (ODOT) scheduled restarting of the “U.S. 26 Mt. Hood
Highway Safety and Preservation Project” on April 1, but Mother Nature had
different ideas.

Two snow storms in the first two weeks of the month delayed work, including
restriping the highway and pushing back the first rock blasting. But the
contractor, K&E Excavating, carried out a successful blast on April 21, with
another potential blast scheduled for April 28.

Kimberly Dinwiddie, ODOT Community Affairs, noted it is too early to know if
the April delays will impact the end of this year’s construction season,
expected to run through October.

“Considering the delay happened early, there hasn’t been any talk about snow
delaying work at the end of the year,” Dinwiddie said, noting they will
examine the schedule and remaining work at the end of the summer.

One highly visible addition to the project, which will expand the highway and
add a 1.6-mile concrete median barrier to prevent crossover accidents, was
installed near the end of April: trucking containers lining the side of the
highway to protect cars from rock falls.

Dinwiddie noted without the containers (expected to remain in place through
May 21), some rock falls could damage vehicles and also potentially close the
road for up to 20 minutes.

“It was a real innovative solution by the contractor,” Dinwiddie said. “They
have a strong commitment to safety and keeping people moving.”

Travelers can expect work on the north and south sides of the highway,
including flagging for approximately 1,000 feet, reducing the highway to one
lane, from 5 a.m. Monday through 10 a.m. Friday, around the clock. There will
be two lanes of traffic during the weekends, and the lane reduction and
flagging is expected to end on May 21.

Dinwiddie added that there have been concerns on Lolo Pass about the speed
of trucks bringing rocks and debris to a dump site, but that the contractor has
addressed that with their drivers. ODOT has also set up a system with the
Hoodland Fire District (HFD) in case firefighters need to respond to an
emergency past the construction area, particularly when a blast is scheduled.
The district can contact an individual who will be able to stop a blast in time
for responders.

HFD Chief Mic Eby noted a similar system was in place last year, and ended
up being used with a blast day getting delayed.

“I’m actually happier this year, with us taking last years process and
improving on it,” Eby said, adding that the district hopes to put a staff
member and volunteer in place at the Government Camp fire station during
blast times. “They showed us last year they’re serious.” Eby noted that during
non-blast times, even when just one lane is open, the workers will be able to
hear the sirens in time for responders to pass through with minimal or no
slowing.

He added that the district has also toured the construction zone, looking at all
aspects to plan for a “worst case scenario,” including getting to patients in
inclement weather.

The system got a test on Monday, April 20, due to the three-alarm fire in
Government Camp. Dinwiddie noted that at the request of HFD, all traffic was
stopped for a time to allow responders to go through, causing “significant
delays.”

“We will always give emergency services top priority to get through,” she
said.

Dinwiddie added the contractor was also able to assist in the firefighting
effort, providing some water they had on site.

Please note the Pioneer Bridle Trail is closed during blasting.

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