Snow and Ice Alert for Weekend Travelers

"Essential equipment for property owners is a snow shovel, de-icing granules – available at home improvement stores, and traction devices" - Mayor Sam Adams

File photo of Porsche Cayenne in winter

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - The Portland Bureau of Transportation is marshaling equipment and extending work shifts to prepare for winter weather that national and local forecasts say could bring a significant amount of snow and freezing rain to the Portland metro region.

The public is advised that travel hazards in these conditions could include icy streets and downed trees, branches, and power lines.

City crews have been applying anti-icing chemical on bridges, overpasses, and major arterials since last Saturday and will work extended shifts this weekend to patrol and anti-ice known trouble spots and plow and sand as needed.

Mayor Sam Adams advises the public not to drive on icy streets. "If streets are icy, stay home and wait until conditions improve, because our road crews can't travel safely on icy streets either," Adams said.

During the winter, any wet streets in the region may freeze when temperatures drop, making black ice a potential. Black ice is treacherous because it is almost invisible. It is ice that remains on roadways that do not get direct sunlight.

Motorists and bicyclists should be especially careful on bridges, overpasses, infrequently traveled streets and shady spots because these areas will freeze first. Pedestrians should be extra cautious crossing streets.

During a winter storm, trees, large branches, and power lines may fall. To report a hazard in the street, call Maintenance Operations at 503-823-1700. For public safety, City and utility crews will move hazards out of the way. If a traffic signal is malfunctioning, the intersection will function as a four-way stop.

At a news conference earlier in the week, Mayor Adams advised the public to prepare their homes, vehicles, and families for winter weather. "Essential equipment for property owners is a snow shovel, de-icing granules – available at home improvement stores, and traction devices," Adams said.

He also directed the public to the new website PublicAlerts.org for breaking news and information on service alerts, street closures, and highway road conditions. Throughout the winter storm season Maintenance Operations monitors temperatures of the air, pavement, and ground, wind data, relative humidity, dew point, visibility, precipitation, street conditions, and weather forecasts. Crews apply calcium magnesium acetate (a liquid form of salt) and sand or gravel to melt snow and ice, improve traction, and reduce slippery conditions. Crews plow and sand high priority service areas that include emergency response routes, transit routes, and major arterials. Neighborhood streets do not receive service, and according to City Code, snow and ice removal from sidewalks is the responsibility of the adjacent property owner.