PORTLAND, Ore. — As we're nearing the end of Portland’s first winter storm of 2024, a separate ice storm is headed this way Tuesday afternoon. And it will once again create dangerous traveling conditions on roadways.
"We think this storm is saving its worst for last," said Don Hamilton with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT).
He said crews have been working 12-hour work days trying to keep the roads clear and safe to drive on. Hamilton adds the dry conditions allowed them to prepare for Tuesday's storm.
"We are preparing for this by putting some de-icer on the roads, getting salt down and getting all of our tools down on the road in anticipation of this," Hamilton said. "And we're encouraging everyone to stay home one more day until this is all done."
Hamilton adds they’re keeping a close eye on trouble spots in higher elevations, including the Coast Range, the Cascades and the Columbia River Gorge. That’s where a combination of high winds and heavy snow has caused road closures. ODOT is encouraging everyone who needs to drive on Tuesday to take chains with them as road conditions are always changing.
"We're dealing with it on a personal level and we’re dealing with it at work," said Ken Bossen, who works with Multnomah County Transportation (MCT).
Downed trees are also something Bossen and his co-worker Doug Cooper deal with daily at work and now at home too. Both of their homes came close to being crushed by trees over the weekend saying this storm damage is one of the worst they've seen in their nearly 8 years with MCT.
"As far as trees and winds go, I don't recall a winter that has been as bad as this," Cooper said. "It feels like we are just going from one to the next — closing roads. The trees have been our biggest battle in this one, really not the snow or the ice."
Public transit
On Tuesday morning, TriMet resumed service on the MAX Blue Line (a 33-mile run between Hillsboro and Gresham), though the Green, Orange, Red and Yellow lines remain suspended. The agency said riders on the Blue Line should expect delays. There is no service to the Washington Park MAX station.
The agency has provided no current timeline for when suspended services on the other MAX lines will be restored.
TriMet officials and weather experts urged people not to travel Tuesday with freezing rain in the forecast. If people must travel, TriMet said its regular bus service is the best option. People can plan their trip at trimet.org. A few bus lines are suspended because of road conditions and some buses are using heavy chains. Buses using chains can travel no faster than 25 mph.
The biggest issue for TriMet and Amtrak has been packed snow and ice on the tracks. TriMet crews continue to work to clear tracks of snow and ice and repair equipment.
Amtrak canceled numerous train rides between Portland and Seattle on Sunday night. KGW has not yet heard back if that will also happen again Tuesday and Wednesday.
If you must travel, you’re encouraged to bring a weather safety kit in your car as there have been reports of people being stuck south of Cottage Grove for over 19 hours while traveling North on I-5.