Drivers traveling on U.S. Highway 26 between the OR 216 junction and Warm Springs should budget extra time through at least mid-June — the Oregon Department of Transportation and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs have launched a joint project to remove roughly 1,000 dead or dying trees along a 16-mile stretch of the highway.

What's Happening

The tree removal work covers mileposts 71 to 87 on US 26 — the stretch running from the OR 216 turnoff (near Maupin) down toward Warm Springs. Crews from ODOT and the Tribes are working together on the project, which targets trees killed or weakened by insects, disease, and drought.

Work is scheduled Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Flaggers will stop traffic in both directions during the operation. ODOT is warning drivers that delays could be significant — some trees may fall directly onto the roadway, requiring heavy equipment to clear debris before traffic can move again.

The project is expected to continue through mid-June, weather permitting.

Why This Work Matters

Dead and dying trees along highway corridors pose a serious safety hazard. Even without active cutting, weakened trees can fall onto roads without warning — a risk that grows during windstorms and wildfire events. By removing them now, ODOT and the Tribes are reducing both traffic safety hazards and potential fuel for wildfires along this corridor.

The partnership between ODOT and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs reflects the Tribe's co-stewardship of reservation lands through which US 26 passes. Similar collaborative maintenance work has helped manage the corridor in past years.

Separate Work Near Government Camp

US 26 is also constrained further west, near Government Camp, where crews are repairing winter landslide damage. That project runs daily from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m., reducing a three-mile stretch between Zigzag and Government Camp to a single lane. Workers are blasting large boulders and repairing guardrails.

Both projects are weather-dependent and schedules may shift if conditions change.

Plan Ahead

If you regularly travel US 26 between Jefferson County and the Portland metro area or the coast, plan for delays and allow extra time during the Monday–Thursday work windows. Checking TripCheck.com before you leave is strongly recommended for real-time updates on delays and road conditions.

All work is expected to wrap by mid-June, barring weather delays.