A publication of the Product Innovation Division of the Mail Tribune
MOVING AHEAD WITH ODOT
When winter hits, ODOT maintenance crews make I-5 their first priority
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s winter approaches, John Vial, the ODOT District Manager, warmed up his message, his mantra for the Rogue Valley. “Keeping the roads open is a partnership between ODOT and the public,” said Vial. We’re prepared for severe winter weather and we ask the public to do the same.” With a winter maintenance goal to maintain a safe driving surface, ODOT maintenance crews throughout the Rogue Valley use many different tools and practices, including plowing, chemicals and sanding materials, to stay ahead of the winter weather. Maintenance crews apply chemicals and sanding material on hills, curves, structures, and known trouble spots. Chemicals are used both as an anti-icer, before the storm to help prevent ice from forming on the road surface, and as a deicer, after the storm to help break the bond between ice and the road surface. ODOT maintenance crews shift their schedules to provide 24-hour coverage during the winter to keep employees fresh and ready to respond to any storm, day or night. “Our crews really gear up for winter,” said Vial. “When a snowstorm hits the I-5 mountain passes, it’s an all-hands-on-deck event. Keeping I-5 open is our first priority.” SISKIYOU PASS The Siskiyou Pass presents a unique challenge. When a storm hits Southern Oregon, the highest priority is the ten-mile stretch of Siskiyou Pass on Interstate 5, due to its importance as a regional freight route and its high traffic volumes. ODOT maintains other mountain passes in Southern Oregon at lower levels of service than the Siskiyou Pass. The Sexton and Smith Passes on I-5 in Josephine County are equal priority to the Siskiyous, however those mountain passes are at significantly lower elevations and do not see the same frequency of winter storms. The Siskiyou Pass is Oregon’s only mountain pass where all-weather or studded tires cannot be substituted for chains.
“Because of the grades, the traffic and the experience of drivers on Siskiyou Pass, we go to a higher standard of traction devices,” Vial said. “When we say chains are required on the Siskiyous, every vehicle has to chain up except vehicles equipped with four-wheel drive.” [Detailed information about conditional closures for Siskiyou Pass is available on page 7.] ILL-EQUIPPED FOR WINTER TRAVEL Storm-related delays and short-term closures on the Siskiyou Pass are a common occurrence. However, motorists are often caught ill-equipped to travel over the I-5 mountain pass. “One of the biggest errors we see is people unprepared for winter conditions and a long wait in their car,” Vial said. “We’ve seen people in shorts and tennis shoes. They have no gloves and no flashlight, but they’re bent over in the snow trying to chain up.” In addition to pre-trip recommendations for winter travel, ODOT recommends motorists use these tips before traveling over the Siskiyou Pass: • Dress warmly. Leave the Hawaiian T-shirt at home. It may be warm in your car, but you’ll miss your winter coat should you need to chain up. Carry an extra blanket and spare clothing in your vehicle. • Fuel up. ODOT maintenance crews work hard to reopen I-5 during a winter storm, but it is not unusual for motorists to spend an hour or more waiting for the road to clear. Keep your tank full and ensure you’ll have plenty of gas to keep your car (and heater) running. • Stay equipped. At a minimum, carry tire chains, a working flashlight and drinking water. Make your wait more bearable by taking along a pair of gloves, a cell phone and some snacks. • Find relief. Don’t find yourself stuck in a snowstorm wishing you had ordered the small coffee instead. Nature calls, and loudly, when you’re sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic. Warmer facilities are abundant in Ashland, so make a final stop before heading south over Siskiyou Pass.
Friday, November 30, 2007
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DRIVE WITH CAUTION AROUND SNOWPLOWS Drivers who try to pass on the right when a snowplow is in operation run the risk of damaging their vehicles, hitting the snowplow or running off the road and into a snow bank or guardrail. On state highways, passing a snowplow on the right is illegal. On most Oregon highways, snowplows have “wing” plows that stick out more than eight feet from the right front edge of the truck. The snow being plowed or blown off the road can contain rocks and other debris that can damage vehicles. Trying to pass a plow on the left also has its problems. The road behind the snowplow is in much better condition than the road ahead. If conditions are severe enough to require the attention of a snowplow, drivers should use extra care when trying to accelerate and pass other vehicles. Ruts in the snow can grab tires; icy conditions make it difficult to control any vehicle at higher speeds. Drivers should give winter maintenance vehicles such as plows and sanders a wide berth. They do not travel at high speeds and other vehicles quickly overtake them. Plows and sanding trucks pull over periodically to let traffic pass. The best advice is to stay at least three car lengths behind and give yourself more time to get where you are going.
DON’T PLACE DRIVEWAY SNOW ONTO STATE HIGHWAYS The state highway is not a good place to deposit snow from your driveway. In fact, it’s against the law to deposit any object onto Oregon highways and highway right of way, including snow. Placing driveway snow on the road or shoulder creates a hazard for other highway users and for ODOT snowplow operators. Chunks of snow and ice form an uneven road surface that can surprise drivers and cause crashes. When snowplows create berms of snow at the end of driveways, ODOT asks property owners to help by shoveling that snow to the sides of their driveways, rather than back onto the road or shoulder. If you shovel snow onto the roadway, you will be asked to clear it away. Or ODOT may remove the snow and bill you for the cost of doing so. In addition, you may be cited under Oregon law; violations are punishable as a misdemeanor under ORS 374.990.