Sticking snow from Salem to Portland causes slick road conditions; some TriMet bus service suspended
By Luisa Anderson, KGW
PORTLAND, Ore. (KGW/KTVZ) — Widespread snow has arrived in northwestern Oregon and it's sticking, creating slippery road conditions from Salem to Portland on Thursday. TriMet service has also been disrupted, with some bus lines in higher elevations suspended and some MAX lines seeing delays.
Multiple crashes have been reported throughout the region, according to TripCheck.com.
Crews with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) worked overnight to spread about 8,000 gallons of liquid de-icer and 300-400 cubic yards of road salt, according to spokesperson Dylan Rivera.
"Stay off the roads, please. Stay indoors. Your first best and safest bet is to not travel, just delay your travel in wintry weather conditions like this," Rivera said.
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Road closures
While winter weather has caused issues on roads throughout the region, there are some particularly treacherous spots.
In Clark County, several vehicles struggling to drive in the snowy conditions have caused a miles-long traffic jam on Interstate 5. Lanes have been on and off closed Thursday morning due to jack-knifed trailers and cars sliding into one another. Two pick-up trucks caught on camera fishtailing temporarily blocked traffic across all lanes, as other vehicles were unable to get through. Trucks have been seen trying to drive sideways up a slight hill on the interstate.
In Marion County, a disabled vehicle temporarily closed I-5 southbound near Battle Creek Road, but the highway has since reopened.
A crash has shut down the westbound lanes of Interstate 84 at Hood River, about three miles west of Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge. Another crash on I-84, four miles east of Multnomah Falls, has also closed the westbound lanes of the freeway; more than 20 vehicles were involved in the morning crash. Deputies also say more than 100 cars, trucks and semis are involved in a giant pileup on I-84, a few miles west of Multnomah Falls, and a SUV has caught on fire. The crashes were caused by high winds blowing snow and drivers traveling too fast for winter weather conditions.
In addition, I-84 is closed in both directions between La Grande, exit 265, and Baker City, exit 302; I-84 westbound is closed to trucks between Ontario, exit 374, and Baker City, exit 302, due to blowing and drifting snow, with visibility less than 500 feet.
Multnomah County has closed Northeast 238th Drive between Northeast Treehill Drive and Northeast Glisan Street, near Fairview and Troutdale. The county said there have been multiple crashes involving more than 20 vehicles. Drivers should avoid the area. Crews are working to tow cars and semi-trucks.
In Oregon City, a TriMet bus appears to have slid off the road going down a hill in Oregon City amid snowy, slippery driving conditions. As of 12:30 p.m., it is stuck partially sideways in a culvert on Electric Street and Linn Avenue next to Singer Creek Park. The specific circumstances around how the bus got stuck is unknown nor if it was carrying any passenger at the time of the crash. The road in which the bus is stuck is closed.
Some TriMet bus lines have been suspended due to safety concerns, according to spokesperson Tia York.
"Those lines, such as lines 63 serve high elevation routes, so those are the first ones that we've chosen to suspend because the conditions are just too treacherous to get those buses through safely," York said.
TriMet is also attaching heavy chains to buses serving lower elevations. Buses with chains can't travel faster than 25 mph, York said.
