Baker County issues winter driving advisory for I-84 and local roads

Baker County drivers on I-84 and local roads are being reminded to prepare for rapidly changing winter conditions as Oregon Department of Transportation systems expand monitoring and control along the corridor. There are more than half a dozen electronic message signs on each side of the freeway between Pendleton and Ontario, ODOT added a camera that takes in the north side of Ladd Canyon this winter, and I-84 Exit 216 will receive traffic management devices to improve safety and traffic control when eastbound lanes close due to weather or emergencies.

ODOT spokesperson Tom Strandberg said the upgrades are part of an effort to give motorists real-time information. “There’s really no excuse not to be prepared for and aware of road conditions,” Strandberg said. ODOT contact listed in source material is Tom Strandberg, 541-963-1330, and the provided email is thomas.m.strandberg@ odot.state.or.us.

The agency points to bridges and overpasses as winter hotspots and notes recent work to strengthen the corridor. “Bridges and overpasses are the most dangerous parts of the road in the winter, but ice can show up anywhere, unannounced — in a shady corner or under a canopy of leafless trees,” ODOT materials state. In 2022 ODOT upgraded about a half-dozen I-84 bridges between Perry and Baker City, including the Upper Perry overpass at Exit 256, the North Second Street overpass in La Grande, the McAlister Lane overpass near Exit 265, and the Exit 302 Richland Interchange overpass near Baker City.

Local collision patterns and pilot enforcement tactics underscore the need for caution on specific stretches. ODOT officials planned a pilot, starting in 2015, to allow temporary speed limit reductions enforceable by police on the 20-mile stretch between Baker City and North Powder. “Although the section of I-84 between Baker City and North Powder is generally flat and straight (one exception is a moderate hill just north of the Baker Valley Rest Area), accidents are common in the area when the pavement is coated with snow or ice, Payton said.” Payton added, “We get a lot of slide-offs in that stretch,” he said.

Drivers should follow specific vehicle-prep steps recommended by winter-safety guidance: have batteries tested, ensure tire tread is at least 2/32 of an inch and tires are properly inflated, verify all lights work, top off winter-grade windshield washer fluid and check coolant, replace worn wiper blades, and clear snow and ice from all windows and mirrors before driving. Pack an emergency kit that includes a snow shovel, ice scraper, jumper cables, flashlight, blankets, and non-perishable food, and keep the gas tank at a comfortable level in case of detours or delays.

On the road, reduce speed, increase following distance, and avoid sudden steering or braking; if a skid occurs, steer in the direction of the skid and avoid abrupt braking. Allow snowplows and spreaders space to work — stay at least four (4) car lengths back from snow removal equipment, and heed “Stay Back” signage on salt brine and sand trucks. Local public messaging on social media has echoed the warnings: “Slow down. Stay safe. Winter driving conditions in Baker County can change quickly. Snow, ice, and falling trees can make travel dangerous—”

TripCheck and ODOT camera and VMS feeds are the sources ODOT points drivers to for current conditions on I-84 between Pendleton, La Grande, Baker City, North Powder and Ontario. For questions about the corridor upgrades and monitoring, the supplied contact is Tom Strandberg at 541-963-1330 or thomas.m.strandberg@ odot.state.or.us. Stay prepared, allow extra travel time, and expect winter closures and traffic management actions at key points such as Exit 216.