After record breaking temperatures two weeks ago winter is back again. The National Weather Service in Medford has issued a winter storm warning for multiple areas of Southern Oregon but Steve Sills, transportation maintenance coordinator for Oregon Department of Transportation, said they have been preparing for this since spring.
“This weekend we have full staff and have everybody on standby. Our vehicles are ready to run,” Sills said.
Ready to deice, salt, plow, and get streets clean despite mother nature’s best efforts.
Allen Walker has been working to keep Oregon’s roads clear for 29 years.
“I like to say it’s a lot of risk management. We manage the risk then you don’t have to worry about a lot of people crashing so we try to keep the roads clear,” Walters said.
Today was no different with the Siskiyou mountains and Southern Oregon Cascades in a winter storm warning until 10 a.m. Saturday.
Sills said they have 30 men working around the clock to work the Siskiyou Pass. Even so, Walters still has some advice for travelers hitting the roads.
“Drive for the conditions that are out there if it looks like it’s wet it’s going to be slick so start slowing down,” Walters said.
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