US 26 Dennis Edwards Tunnel, Washington County, Oregon
$1,000,000

Sen. Jeff Merkley (OR) requests $1,000,000 for:
Oregon Department of Transportation, Salem, OR
OR

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Summary

US 26 Dennis Edwards Tunnel, Washington County, Oregon
Requestor: Oregon Department of Transportation, Salem, OR
Account: FHWA - Federal Lands
Amount Requested: $1,000,000
Description: US 26 (the Sunset Highway) is a National Highway System route, a designated freight corridor and one of the major routes between the Portland metro region and the northern Oregon Coast. Freight movement on US 26 is impeded by the Dennis Edwards Tunnel, located in northwest Washington County. All loads taller than 14' 4? are required to travel down the middle of the tunnel to have adequate clearance. This disrupts regular traffic and causes safety concerns. Currently many heavy trucks have to use US 30 to get from the northern Coast to Portland because of two weight-restricted bridges near the west end of US 26. However, ODOT plans to replace these bridges in 2010. This will turn US 26 into a viable route for heavy and high loads and increase freight volumes. The tunnel's lining needs to be replaced, and ODOT would also like to increase the tunnel's vertical clearance to let tall loads pass through without driving down the center of the road. ODOT would accomplish this by using requested funding to lower the tunnel's roadway. This would reduce the cost truckers and businesses have to pay for traffic control while they travel through the tunnel as well as the cost of having to travel out of direction on US 30 when they can't use the tunnel. The project would also provide a better route to the coast for freight and passenger vehicles in the event of a closure of US 30 due to flooding, landslides, and other hazards.
Project Justification: Height restrictions associated with the Dennis Tunnel impede freight movement on US 26. Over height vehicles limit traffic movement to one lane, slowing regular highway traffic and causing safety concerns. Lowering the roadway during the completion of a scheduled tunnel maintenance activity is a cost effective solution to improving the mobility and safety of tunnel traffic. The elimination of tunnel height restrictions combined with planned bridge repairs that will eliminate existing weight restrictions on two bridges on the western section of US 26 will permit the route to better function as a designated freight corridor and one of the major routes between the Portland metro region and the northern Oregon Coast. The project will also provide a better alternative route for freight and passenger vehicles during frequently occurring closures of US 30.

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