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ODOT Winter Road Guide
January 2016
2016 Winter Roadway Guide
F
ellow Eastern Oregonians and travelers,
Hello and welcome to the 2015 edition of the
Oregon Department of Transportation’s Winter
Roadway Guide. Although we didn’t have a lot of snow
last year, there were numerous days of freezing rain,
dense fog, ice, high winds and other issues that created
challenging driving conditions. We can’t predict what
Mother Nature will bring over the next few months, but
we can all prepare by keeping winter safety in mind.
That is why for over a decade ODOT has published this
Winter Roadway Guide.
,n these pages you’ll ¿ nd information about travel
planning, preparing your vehicle for winter weather, and
driving tips for staying safe under various road condi-
tions. Useful Web links to videos, TripCheck.com and
other information are also included, as well as updates
about past and future projects.
New speed limits for I-84
and other routes
One of the projects ODOT crews and contractors are
working on this winter will support Oregon House Bill
3402. This bill, enacted by the 2015 legislature, raises
the speed limit on Interstate 84 and other state routes in
eastern and central Oregon. The new law takes effect
March 1, 2016, and will raise legal speeds to 70 mph for
passenger vehicles and 65 mph for commercial trucks on
I-84 between the Idaho border and The Dalles. Several
secondary highways will see increased speeds to 65
and 60 mph for passenger vehicles and trucks. More
information about HB 3402, what highways will see
speed limits increased and what you can do to stay safe
on Oregon roads will be posted on our ODOT Region
5 website at www.tinyurl.com/odot-region5. As we get
closer to the March 1 date, we’ll share updates through
the media to keep everyone informed.
Variable speed limit project
near Baker City
Another project involving speed limit signs will be
constructed in 2016 along I-84 between Baker City and
North Powder. ODOT’s Variable Speed Limit Project
will install new digital signs that can lower the legal
speed limit when conditions warrant, such as when
traf¿ c has slowed or stopped due to a crash, or when
severe weather conditions require everyone to slow
down. The project site north of Baker City is located
between the Elkhorn and Wallowa Mountains and has
a history of unique winter weather patterns that can
result in icy roads when other freeway sections are dry.
A second variable speed limit project will be constructed
in future years on the interstate near Meacham where
ice, snow and dense fog are problematic. In both these
areas the new signs will help reduce the number and
severity of crashes, and help shorten the length of time
the interstate is closed when an incident occurs.
Increased highway fatalities
One disturbing trend that Oregon and the nation
are facing is a rise in traf¿ c fatalities. Preliminary data
indicates traf¿ c deaths in the state have increased more
than 25 percent during the ¿ rst 10 months of 2015 when
compared to the same period in 2014. Fatal crashes
increased 11 percent in 2014 over 2013 ¿ gures. This
upward trend is following years of decline in Oregon
traf¿ c deaths.
One of the contributing factors to higher crash rates
is an increase in distracted driving. Distraction comes
in many forms from tuning the radio to eating a messy
sandwich. The fastest growing distractions are cell
phones and mobile devices. Talking on a non-hands-free
device or texting while driving is illegal. It is also a
common occurrence. We have all seen other drivers
holding a phone to their ear or looking down at a small
screen while behind the wheel. People may think a
short distractions is not a problem, but in less than
¿ ve seconds your vehicle has traveled the length of a
football ¿ eld at 50 miles per hour. ODOT and emergency
responders who see the results of those few moments of
distraction urge you to put your phones in the back seat.
Make the choice to drive distraction-free, and get family
members to pledge to do the same.
Key 2015 projects
ODOT will continue to construct projects and
implement changes that are designed to reduce crashes
and create a safer, more ef¿ cient transportation system.
This past year we added extra rumble strips on several
highways, installed new sidewalks and updated pedes-
trian crossings in Pendleton and John Day, increased
shoulder widths for bicycle riders on U.S. 26, replaced
or repaired a dozen bridges and culverts, upgraded
traf¿ c signals in La Grande, Hermiston and Burns, and
resurfaced over 350 lane miles of pavement. One of
our biggest investments to date, the $47 million I-84:
Kamela to Second Street Project constructed west of
La Grande will be completed this year. The three-year
contract repaired seven bridges, upgraded median
barriers, improved truck chain-up areas and resurfaced
16 miles of interstate, adding durable concrete in the
truck lanes that will last for decades. A new third lane for
slow moving westbound trucks was also added at Spring
Creek Grade to help keep everyone moving, especially
during winter weather. Additional projects are planned
for the future that will continue to improve highway
conditions.
More information about the above topics as well as
numerous winter driving tips are covered in the pages of
this publication. Please share it with other drivers in your
household and keep it handy for future reference.
Thank you for keeping safety in mind this winter
season,
Monte Grove
Oregon Department of Transportation
Eastern Oregon Regional Manager