Hazardous 'Bump' in Oregon Coast Range Finally Getting Integral Fix

Published 08/18/25 at 6:35 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Seaside, Oregon) - It was the bane of every traveler going back and forth between Portland and the north Oregon coast. It was known as “the bump” and it would kickstart enough terror in so many hearts the thing could've had its own horror movie. “The Bump,” as it was simply called, was a section of Highway 26 near MP 13 that caused a large number of people to catch air and even serious damage to some cars.

Work began today on that nasty bit of highway that had created so many issues. Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) said that damaged stretch of U.S. Highway 26, located four miles east of Necanicum, is on its way out of existence. The agency launched the long-awaited project today, August 18, aiming to stabilize the roadway and restore safe travel to the coast.

The trouble began way back in 2022 when the bump first appeared, then worsened to an extremely dangerous issue by the end of 2024. The raised part of pavement caused cars to bottom out badly – if they were lucky. Many actually caught air and then slammed back down, causing numerous accidents.

Angi Wildt, owner of Angi D Wildt Gallery in Astoria, told Oregon Coast Beach Connection she had narrowly escaped damage to the vehicle herself, but she's seen how others go wrong.

“I thought 20 mph would work and the back of the car felt like it floated, so probably airborne, it felt pretty dangerous,” she said. “You can't tell coming up on it. You see the signs, but if you are going too fast, you don't know how bad it is if you are unfamiliar. Most people think the signs are conservative, so 35 means 50, ya know? There needs to be a...'we're not playing around' sign attached to it.”

As a temporary fix, back in March crews were forced to remove 100 feet of asphalt across all four lanes due to pavement damage caused by this rare geological event. Rather than sinking, the ground beneath the highway heaved upward - a phenomenon geologists refer to as an “upside-down slide.” The area has remained geologically active throughout the year, with underground water pressure during wet winter months pushing the pavement upward and creating that hazardous area that required frequent maintenance.

Since the gravel work earlier this year, a 25 mph speed advisory has remained in effect.

This weekend, crews began staging for the repair effort by setting up traffic control, installing signage, and stockpiling essential materials such as rock and pipe. Preliminary excavation work may briefly reduce the roadway to a single lane.

Oregon Coast Road, Traffic Conditions, Updates find live road issues - Portland, Oregon Highway Traffic, Road Conditions - Traffic Cams: I-5 - I-205 - I-405 - Hwy 217 - I-84

As of today, ODOT crews have begun excavating beneath all four lanes to install nine perforated drainpipes, which will be surrounded by rock and filter fabric to improve drainage and reduce future ground movement. In addition, workers are excavating roadside ditches on both the eastbound and westbound sides of the highway. Once drainage improvements are complete, the entire stretch will be repaved with four inches of new asphalt. Crews will also apply fresh lane striping, install new delineators, and continue monitoring the site for any signs of further cracking.

Drivers should expect significant traffic impacts. From Monday through Thursday, traffic will be reduced from four lanes to two, with one lane open in each direction between 6 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. All four lanes will reopen Friday through Sunday. Motorists are advised to plan for delays and adjust travel schedules accordingly.

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