Travelers heading west on US Highway 26 toward Mount Hood or east toward Madras should plan for major delays through mid-June, as the Oregon Department of Transportation and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs have launched a joint tree removal project along a roughly 16-mile stretch of the highway near the reservation.

The project targets mileposts 71 to 87 — the section between the Oregon 216 junction and the Warm Springs community. Crews are working to remove approximately 1,000 dead or dying trees from the highway corridor. The work is scheduled Monday through Thursday, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., and flaggers will stop traffic in both directions when needed.

ODOT warns that delays could be significant. Some trees are expected to fall directly onto the highway, requiring heavy equipment to clear the debris before traffic can proceed in either direction. Drivers should expect waits and plan extra travel time accordingly.

A Second Project at Government Camp

Simultaneously, ODOT is repairing winter landslide damage approximately two miles outside of Government Camp, further west on the same highway. That work runs daily from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. and reduces traffic to a single lane over a three-mile stretch between Zigzag and Government Camp. Crews will be blasting large boulders and repairing guardrails, with flaggers guiding traffic through the single open lane in both directions.

Tribal Partnership

The tree removal near Warm Springs represents a collaboration between ODOT and the Confederated Tribes, continuing a pattern of joint stewardship over the US 26 corridor that runs through the reservation. Dead and dying trees along roadways pose a hazard during high winds and storms, and removal reduces fire risk as the region heads into the dry season.

ODOT notes that all work is weather-dependent and schedules could shift if spring storms return to the area. Drivers are encouraged to:

  • Check portable message signs along the highway for real-time updates
  • Watch for workers and slow down in work zones
  • Use alternate routes or travel outside peak work windows when possible
  • Monitor conditions at TripCheck.com

For Jefferson County residents who regularly commute to or through the Warm Springs area, or who travel US 26 to reach the Portland metro area, the combined effect of both projects on the same corridor could create substantial backup. Planning ahead and checking TripCheck before departure is strongly advised through at least mid-June.