Drivers traveling on U.S. Highway 26 between Warm Springs and Mount Hood are facing significant delays through at least June 15, as Oregon Department of Transportation crews and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs work together to remove approximately 1,000 hazardous trees along the corridor.

What to Expect

Work is scheduled Monday through Thursday, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Flaggers are stopping traffic in both directions while crews work, and ODOT has warned that delays can be lengthy — 20 minutes or more. Some trees may fall directly onto the roadway, requiring heavy equipment to clear before traffic can resume.

The project covers mileposts 71 to 87, roughly between the Highway 216 junction and the Warm Springs area.

Why the Trees Are Dangerous

ODOT says the tree removal is necessary following multiple recent incidents involving falling hazard trees on Highway 26. Trees that appear healthy from the outside can be structurally compromised by disease, insects, drought stress, or root damage — and can fall without warning onto the roadway, posing deadly risks to drivers.

The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs are partners in the project, which crosses tribal lands in the Warm Springs Canyon stretch of the highway.

Travel Tips

For those who need to travel between Jefferson County and the Portland metro area or Mount Hood region before June 15:

  • Allow extra time — plan for at least 20–30 minutes of additional travel
  • Consider traveling outside the work window (before 7 a.m. or after 3 p.m., or on Fridays through Sundays)
  • Check ODOT TripCheck at tripcheck.com for real-time updates before departure
  • Note that Highway 26 is the primary route connecting Jefferson County to the Portland metropolitan area; there is no convenient alternate route

After June 15

ODOT has not announced any follow-up work on this specific segment beyond the June 15 deadline, but travelers should monitor TripCheck for any project extensions. The agency has also been developing a broader safety improvement program for the Highway 26 corridor through the Warm Springs Reservation, which has historically had limited shoulders, limited passing zones, and documented safety concerns.

For updates, visit tripcheck.com or call ODOT’s information line at 511.