SALEM, Ore. — Hundreds of protesters, backed by a large convoy of empathetic truckers, converged at the Capitol in Salem Thursday to protest a cap-and-trade bill proposed by Democrats.
Truck drivers started rolling from throughout the state early in the morning for the rendezvous in Salem. They left one of the locations in North Plains at 5:15 a.m., then again another convoy left 15 minutes later, KGW's Christine Pitawanich reported.
The rally in Salem began at 10 a.m. with a list of speakers that included elected officials from rural area of the state, and timber and cattle industry representatives.
Photos: #TimberUnity rally in Salem opposing a cap-and-trade bill
The Oregon Department of Transportation issued a warning for motorists to be aware of the big rigs and heavy congestion.
"The heaviest congestion is expected in and around Salem. A similar rally in 2019 involved hundreds of trucks and created traffic delays," ODOT spokesman Don Hamilton said in a prepared statement.
The routes that may see delays include:
- Interstate 5 corridor.
- I-5 to Salem Parkway (OR 99E) to downtown Salem.
- U.S. 26 (from North Plains) to OR 217 in the Portland Metro area to I-5 to Salem.
- OR 6 to U.S. 26 to OR 217 to I-5 to Salem.
- U.S. 20 to OR 34 to I-5 to Salem.
- OR 22 from Rickreal to Salem.
- Interstate 84 east to I-82/I-84 Interchange to I-5 to Salem.
- U.S. 20 (from Bend) to OR 22 to Salem.
- U.S. 26 (from Prineville) to U.S. 97, to U.S. 20, to OR 22 to Salem