From: Oregon Department of Transportation <odot@service.govdelivery.com>
Date: Wed, Sep 3, 2014 at 12:41 PM
Subject: U.S. 26 closes on Mt. Hood Thursday evening for rock blasting
To: iammejtm@gmail.com
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For information:
Kimberly Dinwiddie, ODOT, 503-539-8454, Kimberly.Dinwiddie@odot.state.or.us
Laura Pramuk, U.S. Forest Service, 503-668-1791,lbpramuk@fs.fed.us
U.S. 26 on Mt. Hood closes for rock blasting Thursday
This first blasting in the safety project also require temporary closing of the Mirror Lake Trail
Controlled rock blasting will get under way Thursday Sept. 4 as the U.S. 26 Mt. Hood Safety project continue to make progress.
The blasting will take place 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and for the safety of the public will require the closure to all users of U.S. 26 west of Government Camp and the Mirror Lake Trail and trailhead parking lot.
Thursday's blasting will be the first in the road safety project. Blasting could occur three nights a week between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m., Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays through October and again April through October in 2015. Closures of U.S. 26 and nearby trails could last up to one hour on the days that blasting occurs. During the closures, ODOT's contractor will use explosives to remove rock from the slope. For the safety of travelers on the highway and trail users the blast area must remain closed during blasting. This Thursday's closure is expected to last up to one hour with U.S. 26 and the Mirror Lake Trail re-opening only after the contractor has determined that all the explosives have fired, that the highway is clear of debris, and that the rock slope is safe and stable.
The Mirror Lake Trail parking lot and trail are within the blast zone. No parking is allowed in the Mirror Lake parking lot on Sept. 4 to ensure cars are not left in the parking lot when blasting occurs. Additionally, flaggers will close the trail to trail users who are already on the trail during the blasting period.
Travelers are encouraged to plan to avoid traveling on U.S. 26 or using the Mirror Lake Trail during the blasting closures. Hikers can find alternative trails to visit during these closures by visitingthe Mt. Hood National Forest website or by visiting the Zigzag Ranger Station. Good alternatives are the Trillium Lake Trail and the Veda Lake Trail, both of which are accessed via Highway 26.
Blasting in this same area is currently planned for Tuesday, Sept. 9, Thursday, Sept. 11 and Tuesday, Sept. 16.
Background
Construction of safety improvements to prevent severe and fatal crashes on U.S. 26 from east of Kiwanis Camp Road to east of the Mirror Lake Curves and to preserve the highway to Oregon Highway 35 is underway on Mt. Hood. Work on the nearly eight mile stretch of U.S. 26 includes:
- Paving between Silent Rock and OR 35
- Placing a barrier between the east and westbound lanes along at 1.6 mile of U.S. 26 from east of the runaway truck escape ramp and the Mirror Lake Curves
- Cutting back the slope along a 600 foot section at Map Curve to provide a 27 foot wide ditch for rocks to land away from the road
- Cutting back the rock slope east of the runaway truck ramp to east of the Mirror Lake trailhead
- Highway widening to install a median barrier
- Construction of a retaining wall to reduce impacts to existing trails from highway widening work
- Extending the westbound passing lanes for a total of about 1,400 feet
Work will occur in 2014, 2015 and 2016 from April 1-October 31. To learn more visit: www.US26MtHoodSafety.org
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Jeremy Tobias Matthews
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