Trucking I-5 in southern Oregon?

You're about to ride a roller coaster

January 15, 2019                                                                                      19-01-R3

For information contact: Gary Leaming, gary.w.leaming@odot.state.or.us, 541-774-6388

ASHLAND – It usually isn’t until you get to the top that you realize … it’s a long way down! That’s the exciting part of your ride on Interstate 5. And as a commercial truck driver, you’re in charge of this ride.

The summits of southern Oregon are the roller-coaster of I-5 – the highest climbs and plunges of this interstate for its entire journey between Canada and Mexico, including Siskiyou Summit just north of the Oregon-California border  at 4,310 feet.

Even if you’ve ridden this roller-coaster before, it’s essential for commercial drivers to be prepared for Oregon’s mountain passes, especially in the winter. A new ODOT graphic shows how essential it is to have chains on board and to climb aboard this roller-coaster with extra caution.

Produced for use by truck stops, restaurants and drivers, the graphic features the elevations, both summits and valleys, of five southern Oregon summits between Canyonville south to the California border. Each pass has a history of commercial truck crashes on their steep climbs and downgrades – especially in wet or wintery weather.

“The graphic and video are a whimsical way for commercial truck drivers – and really any interstate driver in winter – to know that southern Oregon has some of the most severe mountain passes along any interstate,” said ODOT District Manager Jerry Marmon. “When truck drivers have trouble navigating the summits, everyone has trouble.”

The graphic and video, found at the QR code, are available as a public service to remind all drivers of the safety challenges when driving the southern Oregon summits, especially in the winter. Knowing what to expect on the I-5 roller-coaster will help make your ride safe and successful.

Full size graphic link: https://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/Documents/RollerCoaster11x17_QR.pdf

Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ9J5MnF6eM

For road and travel conditions in Oregon, visit https://www.tripcheck.com

For road and travel conditions in California, visit http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov

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