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For those hitting the roads to travel around Christmas weekend, the Oregon Department of Transportation urged motorists to use caution. Highway 26 from the Timber Junction to Highway 47 is considered a snow zone, as is Highway 6 from the Timber junction to Jordan Creek, and motorists are currently required to carry chains or have traction tires. “The Willamette Valley, the mountains, the Columbia River Gorge and Central, Southern and Eastern Oregon all likely will see varying degrees of snow and freezing temperatures over the three-day holiday weekend and into the following week,” ODOT said in a press release.The highway agency offer the following tips to prepare for travel in adverse winter conditions.–Know before you go. Visit
tripcheck.comand see road conditions along your route, start to finish.
–Remember that many
tripcheck.comcameras include temperature, elevation and other critical details about road conditions.
–Drive for conditions. If encountering rain, mud, snow, ice or extra traffic be sure to slow down and give extra space for stopping.
–Keep your vehicle in good operating shape, checking brakes, lights, tires and wipers regularly.
–Watch out for bicyclists and pedestrians. In wintry conditions, visibility drops.
–Pay attention to roadside message signs. They contain critical information about conditions on the road ahead.
–Be patient, wear your seat belt, pay attention to conditions and keep a sober driver behind the wheel to help ensure a safe arrival for holiday activities.
ODOT, facing staffing shortages that have hit the agency since at least last year, noted that their lower-than-usual staff numbers could slow their response times. “We may need a little more time to clear roads, whether it be snow or slides,” the agency said, saying that it continues work to fill vacant positions. Outlining the weather conditions expected, Forest Grove Fire & Rescue urged patience instead of heading into potentially dangerous road conditions for those traveling for the holidays. “It might be better to stay an extra day or two, to wait until road conditions improve. So be prepared to stay longer,” FGF&R said in a social media post. The Banks Fire District also noted the potential for snow and ice. “This weekend [Portland General Electric] encourages customers to prepare now for possible outages,” Banks Fire District spokesperson Mitch Ward said in a social media post. Information on building a power outage kit and other tips on handling a loss of power can be found on the PGE website. The Oregon Office of Emergency Management also provided a list of tips to stay safe during winter storms, which can be read here.
