ODOT Offers insight on I-84 Shutdowns between Pendleton and Ontario

NORTHEAST OREGON – Given the sheer complexity and heavy usage of the U.S. highway system, shutdowns and delays are inevitable. Residents of Eastern Oregon may be all too familiar with winter closures plaguing the portion of I-84 between Pendleton in Umatilla County and Ontario in Malheur County and may be curious as to why these closures happen. While data on crashes and accidents is publicly available through 2021 statewide, within the past few years the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has begun examining data specifically related to closures and shutdowns. Staff of ODOT Region 5 (which covers the entirety of Eastern Oregon) recently offered some insight into this data and the volume of shutdowns impacting I-84 in Northeast Oregon.

A few clarifications before discussing ODOT’s conclusions:

1. The data examines closures of all types, regardless of if they were caused by a crash or other factors.

2. While ODOT did answer several questions regarding the data and shared insight into local trends, Elkhorn Media Group was not permitted to view this raw data directly. All information discussed in this article constitutes responses from ODOT after the data was examined by them.

3. The data in question is relatively new, only going back approximately 3 years for Region 5, and DOES NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF CLOSURES. As described by ODOT Community Affairs Specialist Vicki Moles, “This data set is more of what we would call impact to the system data. It shows causal effects and trends to help inform operations and opportunities to help us adjust and communicate the issues that this interstate faces.”

4. The findings being discussed only focus on closures of I-84 between Pendleton and Ontario. Closures along I-84 outside this span along with other state highways in the region are not being examined. Further, given the newness of the data, it has not been vetted or audited in the same way as publicly available crash data at this time.

Now, onto ODOT’s findings.

According to ODOT, I-84 between Pendleton and Ontario is, as one would expect, closed much more frequently in the winter months, with December and January being the highest closure months of the year. The portion of I-84 between Pendleton and La Grande specifically (mileposts 214 — 244 approximately) is the most susceptible to shutdowns within the specific region year-round.

In total, there were over 40 recorded closures along I-84 in 2023. This includes both short- and long-term closures of the highway as well as closures that only shutdown a single direction of traffic. Of these, nearly half were less than three hours in duration.

In addition, as described by ODOT, “The data indicates commercial vehicles are involved in the majority of the events closing I-84 between Pendleton and Ontario.” Further, according to ODOT, “closures due to crashes involving larger commercial vehicles are about five times more common.”

NOTE that this data does not list the exact cause or fault in recorded closures, merely the type of vehicles involved. It should be further noted that, according to Moles, roughly 1/3 of all vehicles traveling on I-84 between Cabbage Hill and La Grande are commercial motor vehicles (5 axles or more) each year on average.

Overall, data shows that I-84, within the specified span, is closed for approximately 241 hours each year on average and sees an average of 4 closures a month. ODOT has not noticed any trends in the amount, frequency, or length of shutdowns since data recording began. That said, the newness and limited timespan of the data means identifying trends is considered unlikely.

To stay safe when traveling along the highway and to be prepared in the event of a closure, ODOT offers the following safety recommendations:

• Check Tripcheck.com and forecasts along your travel route before you head out.

• Be prepared for extended delays by giving yourself extra time to make your trip. 

• We strongly recommend travelers carry a fully stocked emergency kit, including a phone charger and weather-appropriate clothing, and refuel or recharge their cars often.

• Make sure that you and your vehicle are prepared to drive on snow and ice. Use traction tires and carry chains. If you are not comfortable driving on slick roads, consider using public transportation to get where you need to go.

• Do not follow GPS navigation devices, as they could lead you onto routes that are in worse condition, or not maintained during winter.

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Elkhorn Media Group

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