The elevated asphalt ridge has been linked to several crashes, and work on a permanent repair is expected to take about 30 days.
CLATSOP COUNTY, Ore. — Road work to repair a large bump along U.S. 26 near Seaside began Monday and is expected to take about 30 days to complete.
According to the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), the ridge of elevated asphalt at milepost 13 was caused by an “upside-down slide,” created when groundwater pressure pushed the pavement upward. The resulting buckling has been blamed for several crashes.
“There were a lot of people reporting that they ‘caught air,’” ODOT spokesperson Mindy McCartt said. “We know that this has been a frustrating spot for drivers for years.”
In March, conditions around the bump worsened to the point where crews removed 100 feet of asphalt across all four lanes. ODOT covered the stretch in gravel and lowered the speed limit to 25 mph — one of several temporary fixes the agency has implemented. Officials said they hope the new repair will be permanent.
“We are going to be installing nine different perforated drainpipes under all four lanes, plus digging new roadside ditches to drain that groundwater away from the road,” McCartt said. “Then we’ll repave, stripe and give drivers a smoother, safer ride.”
Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction Monday through Thursday from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. McCartt said drivers should watch for flaggers, cones and equipment moving in and out of the work zone.
“The biggest help that drivers can do for us right now is slow down,” she said.
