If you've been driving Highway 26 between Warm Springs and Mount Hood lately, you've likely hit the flaggers. That project is nearly done — but drivers have a few more days of delays ahead.
The Oregon Department of Transportation and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs have been jointly removing approximately 1,000 hazardous trees along the Highway 26 corridor since mid-May. The project was prompted by multiple deadly incidents along the stretch in recent years, where dead and dying trees have fallen onto the roadway.
What to Expect
Work is scheduled to continue through June 15, Monday through Thursday, between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. Flaggers stop traffic in both directions during active tree removal operations.
ODOT has warned that delays can be significant — 20 minutes or longer — especially when large trees must fall directly onto the highway and require heavy equipment to clear. If you're traveling between Madras or Warm Springs and the Mount Hood area for work, appointments, or weekend recreation, build extra time into your schedule through the weekend.
Why It Matters to Jefferson County
Highway 26 is a critical artery for Warm Springs residents traveling to Portland-area medical appointments, employment, and family. It's also a major recreation route for Central Oregon residents heading to Mount Hood, the Columbia Gorge, and the coast. Delays ripple across communities on both sides of the Cascades.
The tree removal is a collaboration between ODOT and tribal crews — reflecting the kind of government-to-government partnership that manages much of the corridor infrastructure on reservation lands.
After June 15
ODOT has not announced follow-up construction phases at this time, though the agency noted that the larger corridor has ongoing safety improvement needs. Travelers can check real-time road conditions at tripcheck.com before heading out.
The project wraps up just ahead of the peak summer travel season, when Highway 26 sees some of its heaviest recreational traffic of the year.