Hoodland Fire and ODOT work to keep EMS moving despite U.S. 26 closures

April 16, 2015

For information:

ODOT: Kimberly Dinwiddie, 503-539-8454, Kimberly.Dinwiddie@odot.state.or.us

Hoodland Fire: Chief Mic Eby, 503-622-3256, miceby@hoodlandfire.com

www.US26MtHoodSafety.org

Hoodland Fire and ODOT work to keep EMS moving despite U.S. 26 closures

Communication protocols ensure people get lifesaving services during one hour road closures

Work on the U.S. 26 Mt. Hood Safety Project requires closures of U.S. 26 west of Government Camp for up to an hour three nights a week. However, the road closures won’t stop the Hoodland Fire Department from servicing the community of Government Camp and beyond.

“Providing lifesaving services is our number one priority and we were concerned with how blasting Highway 26 would affect our ability to provide that service,” said Chief Mic Eby with the Hoodland Fire Department. “We are glad that ODOT understood our concerns and the stakes. Together, we came up with a protocol to ensure we can reach those who need us in an emergency despite the rock blasting.”

Blasting the tall rock slopes to address rockfall and widen the highway to place a center barrier along at 1.6 mile stretch of Mt. Hood requires closing U.S. 26 to all users for up to an hour three nights a week Monday’s, Tuesday’s and Thursday’s from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. During the closures for blasting, eastbound travelers will be stopped at Kiwanis Camp Road and westbound travelers will be stopped at the west end of Government Camp. The Hoodland Fire Department though will always be able to get through.

“Closing U.S. 26 for up to an hour is necessary to protect the public while our contractor performs blasting work required to implement our safety project on Mt. Hood,” said Rian Windsheimer, ODOT Region 1 Manager. “ODOT is committed to working with the Hoodland Fire Department to ensure lifesaving services remain available to residents and visitors on Mt. Hood at all times.”

The Hoodland Fire Department serves 45 square-miles on Mt. Hood and the main fire station is approximately seven miles to the west of the U.S. 26 closures potentially cutting the fire department off from those they serve. ODOT and Hoodland Fire worked out a plan to ensure that at any time, the fire department can get through the closure with a clear road. Even if this means postponing a blast until emergency services get through.

On previous projects, ODOT has used similar communication protocols to alert construction workers to open the road for emergency services. In 2011, when ODOT closed the Dennis Edwards Tunnel on U.S. 26 (Sunset Highway) in the coast range, emergency services were able to reach the contractor to open the tunnel and allow an ambulance transporting a newborn baby from a coastal hospital to a hospital in Portland. The quick action of the workers to open the tunnel allowed the baby to receive the medical services it needed.

Blasting on the U.S. 26 Mt. Hood Safety Project could begin as early as Tuesday, April 21.

##ODOT##