Familiar winter road tale played out Friday
Highway crews content with two major freeway incidents
By Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
Monday, December 31, 2007 11:12 AM PST
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| An Oregon Department of Transportation snowplow makes a trip down the eastbound Interstate 84 on ramp from East Idaho Avenue Friday afternoon to clear off any remaining ice or snow. |
ONTARIO - Oregon Department of Transportation crews and weekend travelers across Eastern Oregon were the main characters in a routine scenario with a familiar script Friday when Interstate 84 was closed down after blowing and drifting snow reduced visibility, provoking dangerous travel situations across the region.
I-84 was closed down for nearly 10 hours Friday.
“They just opened up the freeway,” Ric Young, Oregon Department of Transportation, Maintenance District 14 manager, said, about 10:30 a.m. Friday. “They closed it at midnight Friday at La Grande first.”
Eventually weather-related conditions forced ODOT to shut down the highway near Baker City and, later Friday morning, at Pendleton.
White-out conditions also prevailed in Ladd Canyon, south of La Grande.
“Winds were up to 40 miles per hour,” Young said of Ladd Canyon.
Closer to Malheur County, winter conditions were less severe. Young said reports from the southern part of the county Friday indicated that most of the snow had been blown off U.S. Highway 95 and conditions were good.
Young said, that conditions were different between Vale and Burns.
“Snow is pretty deep on Stinkingwater Pass,” Young said, referring to one of the two highest passes between Vale and Burns.
“Just about all the high mountain passes are getting lots of snow,” Young said.
The pass with the most amount of snow in Eastern Oregon, as reported Saturday by ODOT, was Tollgate Pass, with 100 inches of roadside snow.
Young said after the freeway was opened Friday morning, crews placed sand on the eastbound lanes of Three Mile Hill. Young said.
Also, Greyhound Bus Lines posted a delay or cancellation notice for its schedules between Boise and Portland and Boise and Seattle on its Web site because of severe weather.
Driving precautions are key, Young said, noting people drive over snowy and icy roads on bald tires or without any chains.
Preparations is key during the winter driving season Young said.
