January 15, 2024 11:20 a.m.  

Crews continue to work around the clock to keep the highways open and reopen those closed by ice and downed trees and power lines across Oregon.

A release from the Oregon Department of Transportation said with unusually cold temperatures and another round of freezing expected Tuesday, travel will continue to be challenging.

Northbound Interstate 5 south of Eugene remains slow and congested due to overnight crashes.

Motorists should continue delaying their travel until later this week if possible. Those who must travel, should be prepared for conditions as difficult as the weekend. Even areas where snow and ice began to melt in the daytime, overnight lows are expected to freeze it for the next two nights.

Those who travel should carry chains, plenty of fuel, snacks and blankets in case of delays.

Crews are plowing 24/7 and using de-icer buy the hundreds of thousands of pounds, as well as sanding packed ice and snow on the roads. However, the amount of ice and extremely low temperatures limit the effectiveness of these tools, – especially for vehicles without chains.

To see images from this winter event, go to: https://www.flickr.com/photos/oregondot/albums/72177720314007399/