PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — A troublesome “bump in the road” has resurfaced along Highway 26, frustrating drivers traveling toward Oregon’s northern coast. The issue, located near milepost 13, has been a recurring problem since 2022, when the asphalt first began to rise several inches above the road surface.
The original bump measured about 6 inches high and covered an area roughly 3 by 4 feet. According to Mindy McCart, spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), the cause of the uneven surface is tied to a slow-moving landslide beneath the highway. “It’s a byproduct of a massive, slowly unfolding landslide shifting the entire hillside,” McCart explained.
To address the problem, ODOT crews previously installed a drainage system across the affected section of highway in August and September of this year. The repairs appeared to stabilize the area temporarily. However, McCart noted that the ground remains unstable due to underground water and the natural slope beneath the pavement — conditions that make the area prone to continued movement.
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Unfortunately, the problem has now returned. This time, the bump is smaller and has appeared in a slightly different location along the same stretch of road. ODOT maintenance teams have observed recent ground movement and have placed traffic cones and warning signs to alert drivers of the hazard.
McCart said ODOT plans to install an additional drain once the weather allows. The new drainage system will help redirect groundwater and reduce pressure under the pavement, in hopes of preventing further deformation.
For now, ODOT crews are closely monitoring and maintaining the site to ensure driver safety. Officials are advising motorists to slow down to 25 mph through the area and to allow an extra 20 minutes for possible travel delays while driving toward the coast.
Despite repeated repairs, the Highway 26 “bump” remains a reminder of the ongoing geological challenges faced in Oregon’s mountainous and landslide-prone terrain.
