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Dec. 14, 2016

Contacts

Kimberly Dinwiddie, 503-539-8454. Kimberly.Dinwiddie@odot.state.or.us

Don Hamilton, 503-704-7452, Don.B.Hamilton@odot.state.or.us

Get safely situated before storm or expect treacherous conditions long delays

Congestion could gridlock roads as people avoid snow

Snowfall forecasted for the Portland metro area Wednesday afternoon could lead to treacherous travel conditions, gridlocked roadways and delays that could last for hours.

Travelers stuck on snowy or icy roads can create unsafe conditions and prevents ODOT from plowing or sanding the roads.

Travelers can avoid delays and weather related safety hazards by following some common sense tips:

Get safely situated. Don’t wait until after a storm hits to get on the road. Get to your destination yourself before conditions turn nasty and unsafe.

Travel smart . Consider waiting until a storm passes to get on your bike or in your car. Or work from home.

Look out for each other . If you must drive, remember people walking or biking are harder to see in a storm and slick conditions could lead to people falling off their bikes. If you’re biking or walking remember that cars don’t stop quickly on snow and ice.

Leave early. It’s smart to allow plenty of time to get where you’re going. In severe weather, closures and crashes can cause long delays.

Know before you go. Plan your route. Visit Tripcheck.com in advance to look at ODOT cameras and check conditions.

Have an emergency kit. Have warm clothes, cell phone chargers, food, medicine and tire chains.

Don’t abandon your vehicle . It prevents us from clearing the road and emergency services from getting to the people who need them

Watch for plows. ODOT sand trucks, plows and deicer trucks can’t clear roads clogged with traffic. The more traffic stays off the road, the quicker roads can be treated. Stay at least three car lengths back. Everybody benefits the sooner they can get the road cleared.

Remember, driving in severe weather is never a safe choice. The safest thing to do is stay off the road.

##ODOT##