Watch as Oregon crews prepare for winter in snow 'roadeo' obstacles
Drivers are getting their training on snowplows before winter weather arrives
Oregon crews prepare for winter in snow 'roadeo' obstacles
Workers with the Portland Bureau of Transportation are getting ready for winter weather, and they have a fun way of doing it. On Tuesday morning, an obstacle course was set up at the Portland International Raceway where drivers took turns behind the wheel of dump trucks with snowplows attached.�
PORTLAND, Ore. – Road crews are having some fun as they prepare for winter weather in Oregon.
Portland's Bureau of Transportation set up an obstacle course on Tuesday at the Portland International Raceway.
Maintenance operation drivers practice maneuvering dump trucks fitted with snowplows and sand spreaders.
Workers told KPTV that it's an excellent way for them to refresh their skills and allows Portlanders to prepare for winter weather, too.
"When people are out there on the plows, they are doing the best they can. I drove around in, I guess in not the best of conditions, but it was only a little light rain. So, when people are out there during snow emergencies and when our crews are actually out there doing the work, it's important for everyone to be careful out there. They're huge trucks, they keep the public safe, but I felt like it was coming in for a landing when I came here," Transportation Director Chris Warner said.
Portland sees, on average, 5.1 inches of snow each winter. Last winter, the city saw 10.1 inches.