Ice storm paralyzes parts of Oregon, Washington state
TROUTDALE, Ore. — An ice storm shut down major highways Wednesday in Oregon and Washington state and paralyzed towns in the Columbia River Gorge with up to 2 inches of ice at the same time rising temperatures in Portland raised the prospect of flooding after the largest snowstorm in years.
As temperatures hovered around freezing, Interstate 84 was shut down for about 45 miles in an area northeast of Portland and again farther east due to blizzard conditions. Transportation officials had no immediate plans to reopen the highway connecting Oregon and Idaho.
Officials warned Idaho motorists not to head west toward Oregon on the highway where dozens of semi-trucks with no place to go were lined up and double-parked along ramps near the point of the closure.
“They just towed me out because they want to clear the road, but I don’t think I-84 is back open,” said Brad Cottle, a trucker who got stuck in the mess and spent the night in his cab. “I’m going to have to go back to the truck stop.”