Dangerous Mt. Hood Highway Slated Safety Improvements

Posted on behalf of Rizk Law on Oct 22, 2013 in Auto Accident

The Oregon Department of Transportation is in the early stages of developing a project to improve safety on the U.S. 26 Mt. Hood Highway just east of Rhododendron and west of Oregon Highway 35, where the crash rate is twice that of other primary, rural non-freeway Oregon highways.

Planned Safety Improvements for US 26

An independent team of traffic safety, emergency response, and highway professionals produced the following safety recommendations for U.S. 26 that will be implemented, starting 2014.

Paving between Rhododendron and OR 35 Junction
Cutting back the rock slope on the west end of the project for rock fall mitigation
Highway widening to install a median barrier
Installing a median barrier between the east- and westbound lanes for about a 2.3-mile stretch of U.S. 26 from east of Kiwanis

Camp Road to east of Mirror Lake Trailhead

Construction of a retaining wall to reduce impacts to existing trail from highway widening work
Extending the westbound passing lanes for a total of about 1,400 feet
Installing overhead curve-ahead warning signs

Camp Creek to Government Camp Accident Statistics

An independent team of traffic safety, emergency response and highway professionals performed a Road Safety Audit along the seven-mile stretch of U.S. 26 between Camp Creek and Government Camp.

The audit found:

301 crashes occurred
Four people died
243 people were injured
29 people were seriously injured

Kiwanis Camp Road to East of Mirror Lake Trailhead Statistics

After implementing many of the solutions recommended in the audit for the roadway just east of Rhododendron, ODOT is now designing solutions to address the safety concerns from half a mile east of Kiwanis Camp Road, through the curves, to east of the Mirror Lake trailhead.

Along this 2.3-mile stretch:

109 crashes occurred
31 were cross-over crashes
4 people died
88 people were injured

Planned Changes Kiwanis Camp Road to East of Mirror Lake Trailhead

Median Barrier

A median barrier is proposed between the eastbound and westbound lanes in this section to prevent head on crashes.

Extension of Downhill Passing Lanes

ODOT plans to extend the downhill passing lanes for a total of about 1,400 feet of a curvy section of roadway that has been difficult for drivers. This will provide drivers with more room and time to form a single lane of traffic.

Center Barrier

To reduce severe cross-over crashes, a center barrier will span about 2.3 miles between east of Kiwanis Camp Road to east of the Mirror Lake trailhead. Cross-over crashes have the potential for serious injury and death.

Timeline for Completion of the Project

During construction, travelers can expect:

Short-term highway and trail closures due to controlled rock-blasting
Highway lane closures and shifted travel lanes

Because of the unique site conditions and limited construction season due to winter weather, construction is estimated to take at least three years.

If you are injured in a collision on Mt Hood Highway that was caused by another motorist, you may be eligible for compensation. Contact a car accident lawyer in Portland at Rizk Law for a free consultation. Ph: 503.245.5677.

$1,250,000
Car v. Pedestrian Crash

Pedestrian’s Stroll

FACTS: Commercial motorist strikes pedestrian on Oregon roadway. No witnesses. Litigated case.

INJURIES: 1. Brain injury; 2. Broken bones. Other details are confidential.

$900,000
Truck Accident

Car T-Boned by Commercial Delivery Truck

FACTS: Client t-boned by a commercial delivery truck. Delivery driver cited for distracted driving and careless driving. Client left pinned in her car with obvious compound arm fractures.

INJURIES: Compound left arm fracture, chest pain, neck sprain, back sprain, and shoulder and knee injuries.

$695,000
Car Accident

PDX Rent-a-Car Head Injury

FACTS: PDX shuttle driver struck by SUV while walking across airport parking lot. Strikes head on pavement. Loses consciousness. No witnesses. Insurer resists claim suggesting client at fault and claims brain injury is due to pot smoking. Wife also files claim for loss of affection. Litigated case.

INJURIES: Concussion, contusions, loss of intimacy.

$625,000
Car Accident

Drunk Driver Collides Head On with Postal Worker

FACTS: Client, an off-duty postal worker, drove home after completing a 12 hour shift on December 26. Two bars overserved the defendant driver leaving her to drive home 3 times above the legal alcohol limit. Defendant driver traveled on a rural road without headlights on when she collided head on into postal worker.

INJURIES: Client suffered PTSD, including frequent nightmares and fractures to right arm, leading to several shoulder surgeries.

$625,000
Car Accident

SUV Driver Hit by Full-Size Pick-Up Truck on US-30 Outside Astoria, Oregon.

FACTS: SUV driver hit by oncoming full-size pick-up truck on US-30 outside Astoria, Oregon. Litigated case.

INJURIES: Fractured T3-T9 rib fractures requiring surgical repair with plates; transverse process L1-L5 fractured; pulmonary contusion, bruise on the left; simple pneumothorax resulting in pneumonia; seat belt abrasions on neck and around hips. Left hand lacerations. Middle finger cut. Arm and leg bruises.

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