The Mt. Hood Highway is one of the most beautiful drives in Oregon taking travelers through the Mt. Hood National Forest.  However, many safety concerns exist along this highway and many crashes have occured. And sadly, some crashes prove fatal.

 

 

An independent team of traffic safety, emergency response, and highway professionals performed a Road Safety Audit of U.S. 26 between Camp Creek and Government Camp (see below) to identify the number and types of crashes and various solutions to improve safety.  Crashes from 2002-2011:

 

 

Crashes between Camp Creek and Government Camp

 

 

301 crashes

                                     4 people died

                         243 people were injured of which

                         29 people were seriously injured 

In 2009, an independent, multi-disciplined team conducted a Road Safety Audit (RSA) of U.S. 26 between the Camp Creek Campground and Timberline Highway.  The study resulted in a list of critical safety issues, their relative safety risk and suggestions for improvement.  As a result of the RSA, ODOT is proposing several improvements to further enhance safety on the mountain. 

​More than 50 people attended a public meeting July 29, 2010 in Welches to learn about the findings of the Road Safety Audit and to learn more about ODOT's proposed safety project.  Thank you to all who attended. 

Based on the findings from the Road Side Audit, ODOT is proposing the following improvements at the corresponding locations.  To view a map with a summary of proposed improvements and crash data for each location, click here.    

Map Curve (MP 49.4 - 50.1)   Problem: --Rocks on roadway   --Cross-over crashes as a result of missing the curve and unsafe westbound passing Proposed Solution: --Cut back rockface and provide catchment to keep rocks off roadway (requires some tree     removal)   --Widen to install aesthetic concrete median barrier and rock catchment area ​	​
Between Map Curve & Mirror Lake Curve (MP 51.3 - 51.6)   Problem: --Unsafe westbound passing --Speeding --Cross-over crashes   Proposed Solution:  --Cut back rockface and provide catchment to keep rocks off roadway (requires some tree     removal)   --Widen to install aesthetic concrete median barrier	​
Mirror Lake Curve (MP 51.6 to 52.2) Problem: --Crashes caused by driving too fast for weather conditions   --Westbound passing lane is too short   --Changing lanes in curve is difficult to maneuver   Proposed Solution:     --Cut back rockface and provide catchment to keep rocks off roadway (requires some tree     removal)     --Extend both eastbound and westbound passing lanes into straight sections of road   --Widen to install aesthetic concrete median barrier ​	​

• Paving an 8.3 mile stretch of U.S. 26 between Rhododendron (milepost 49.2) to the Oreogn Highway 35 Junction (milepost 57.5)

• Installing overhead curve warning signs 

Schedule 

Construction Impacts 

This project is still under design and construction details are still emerging. We will have information relating to how this project will affect the traveling public and how long construction work will take in the summer of 2013.

Cable Median Barrier
ODOT installed a cable median barrier on U.S. 26 between milepost 28.4 and 30.3 (just west of the previously installed cable median barrier) to prevent cross-over crashes. 

Camp Creek Entrance (MP 47.0 - 47.1)
This project addressed safety concerns and enhanced driver visiblity. Previously, drivers would misjudge the curve because of restricted visibility, lose control and hit trees. This project was identified in the Road Side Safey Audit mentioned above. Work included improving the curve, increasing the size of the "Curve Ahead Sign," triming back trees inside the curve, widened the gravel westbound shoulder and added guardrail to the eastbound shoulder.

U.S. 26: Milepost 47.6 - 48.8
This project was identified in the Road Safety Audit mentioned above. In this strech there was a lack of safe westbound passing opportunities throughout corridor and a lack of safet chain on/off area. Work on this project included adding a westbound passing lane and a safe chain on/off area within the existing tree line and placing an electronic message sign to inform drivers of chain requirements and designated chain on/off areas.