“I think the key issue here is safety and mobility for the public and mobility for freight,” Gary Leaming, ODOT spokesperson said.
The expansion will be from milepost 11 in Ashland to milepost 100 in Canyonville, as well as part of I-84 heading into eastern Oregon. ODOt says salt will be used a strategic tool this winter.
“Phase two gives us that additional tool for those hills north of Grants Pass, Smith, Stage, Sexton and also Canyon Mountain,” Leaming said.
For some residents the salt is a reassurance and an added layer of protection.
“I’m scared when people have accidents. You see it and it kinda freaks you out,” Krystal Hayes, Medford resident said. “To me the salt would be a lot safer for our tires especially for black ice.”
Others are divided.
Don Bechtel has been in the truck industry his entire life.
“Grew up in a trucking family,” Bechtal said. “Lived on a truck for the first five years of my life.”
He understands salt can improve safety but he also knows the impact it can have on your car.
“You see the results from those vehicles that have the salt and then ones that don’t,” he said.
ODOT says expanding salt use gives them one more tool in the toolbox as we head into winter, but adds it won’t be the first option.
“It will be used as the final option to prevent us from hopefully getting down to where we have to institute a chain requirement where that delays traffic and also freight,” Leaming said.
ODOT says its seen about a 60 percent decrease in accidents since it first started its salt pilot program five years ago.
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