Sylvan-Highlands Neighborhood Association (SHNA)

US 26 Widening from Camelot to Hwy 217

Information and details

ODOT Combines Camelot-Sylvan Phase 3 and OTIA Project to Speed Construction
Construction is expected to begin this summer on a $30 million series of projects to:

* Replace the US 26 over-crossing of the westbound Canyon Road exit ramp

*Widen eastbound US 26 between Hwy 217 and Camelot Court to three lanes

*Repave all lanes of US 26 between Hwy 217 and the Camelot Court overpass

Phase 2 features

Westside Corridor Plan
This project is part of the overall Westside Corridor plan in partnership with TriMet, the City of Portland and Multnomah and Washington counties. When Westside Corridor projects are completed, a continuous pathway for pedestrians, bicycles and wheelchairs will extend from Portland to the Cedar Hills interchange and beyond. Automobiles, trucks and buses will travel on the improved and safer Sunset Highway and local street system.

History
These projects constitute the third and final phase of a three-phase modernization project to improve the section of US 26 (the Sunset Highway) between the Camelot Court overpass (near the cemetery) and the Sylvan interchange. Work was divided into three construction phases to optimize available funding over several years.
The first two phases moved parallel local streets further away from the Sunset Highway; removed or replaced existing over-crossings (Camelot Court and Sylvan bridges) with wider structures; constructed retaining walls and soundwalls; and constructed collector-distributor roads and revised exit/entrance ramps.

Expected Traffic Changes
Reconstruction of the US 26 over-crossing of the Canyon Road westbound exit ramp will increase vertical clearance to ODOT’s minimum standard for highway construction, 17 feet.

During reconstruction of the Canyon Road structure, traffic moving westbound on US 26 will use the collector-distributor lanes, which
will be widened to three lanes. Motorists will be able to enter westbound US 26 from the Sylvan on-ramp; however, motorists will not be able to head west on Canyon Road from the Sylvan interchange. Instead, traffic planning to go from the Sylvan interchange to westbound Canyon Road will have to detour eastbound on US 26 to the Oregon Zoo exit and then double back west in the far left lane of US 26 to access the Canyon Road exit.