| U.S. 26: Dennis Edwards Tunnel |
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| Project Information |
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ODOT is in the beginning stages of design work on a U.S. 26 Dennis Edwards Tunnel project which includes:
* relining the interior walls of the tunnel
* improving drainage and lighting
* exploring options for enhancing mobility
The Dennis Edwards Tunnel is on U.S. 26 (Sunset Highway), 27 miles west of Portland. The tunnel, built in 1941, needs to be relined due to its age. ODOT is also examining options to improve mobility for freight to and from the coast. Options are limited due to the historic nature of the tunnel portals.
Dennis Edwards Tunnel facts:
* The tunnel is 800 feet long and 37 feet wide (two narrow lanes with narrow sidewalks)
* At its apex, the tunnel is 22 feet high; it's 13.5' to 14' feet wide at the edge of the travel lane
* One option on the table - lowering the floor of the tunnel - would increase vertical clearance by approximately 3 feet
* Average daily traffic (ADT) in the tunnel is 6900 vehicles; in the summer months the ADT is 10,000 vehicles
* The ADT of freight vehicles in the non-summer months is approximately 804
* The tunnel portals are considered historical and cannot be removed or adjusted in any way under the historic preservation guidelines
* The Dennis Edwards Tunnel was named after Dennis L. Edwards, an ODOT maintenance employee was killed during inspection activities in January 1999 when part of the tunnel collapsed.
Updates and further information will be posted on this web site as the design for the project moves forward and ODOT continues to solicit input from affected stakeholders. ODOT will work with the coastal communities and traveling public to help mitigate any traffic impacts during construction.
This $12.86 million project is currently slated to start construction late 2010 or early 2011.
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| ODOT Contact Information |
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For more information about this project, please contact:
Lili Gordon, ODOT Community Affairs Coordinator
503-731-8247; Lili.D.Gordon@odot.state.or.us
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