Oregon Department of Transportation’s District 12 is making improvements to a spot of Interstate 84 infrastructure to help ease chaotic traffic conditions during severe weather events.
“Prior to Exit 216 eastbound, we’re going to have an automated closure system,” said Rich Lani, ODOT District 12 manager. “There will be advance notification of the freeway being closed using variable message signs. We will automatically close the freeway using drop arms that will come down and force traffic to leave the road at Exit 216.”
Lani said the system is necessary, “to keep our folks from being in the middle lane setting up cones in inclement weather conditions, which could be high winds, low visibility, snow, fog, freezing fog,or freezing rain.”
He said the improvements at Exit 216 will include an area where drivers can install chains and vehicles can be inspected to make sure they have necessary chains or other traction devices.
“If they don’t have the correct traction devices to continue on, we can turn them back onto Thompson Road and then come back out on South Market Road,” Lani said, “or they could go back on I-84 and head west, or use Highway 331 that goes by the casino and the truck stop and wait.”
Lani said ODOT is trying to keep vehicles that are noncompliant with the chain law from continuing up the mountain and losing traction, spinning out and blocking lanes, forcing a closure.
“We don’t want traffic to get stranded up on the hill or caught in a mess that’s already there,” he said.
Lani said the message signs to alert drivers will start between Exit 209 and Exit 210 so drivers will know well in advance the freeway is closed at Exit 216.
Lani said the system also includes a system to warn drivers of speed reductions so traffic can slow down and safely leave the highway at the Exit 216 east bound off-ramp.
“There will be another automated gate to close the eastbound on-ramp there,” Lani said. “There will be additional signs on Oregon State Route 11 and old U.S. Route 30 coming out of Pendleton east, warning traffic of the closure ahead on Highway 331 that runs north and south between I-84 and Highway 11.”
Lani said there will be additional lighting installed at the interchange that will automatically switch on when the closure protocol is activated.
Lani said the construction project was awarded to Mike Becker Construction Co. for about $3.5 million, and construction could start “any day, could be a week, or a month or two, depending on what their construction schedule is like. They’ll be working with our regional construction office.”
