Highway advisory radio system installed

This story was published Sat, Feb 2, 2002

By Karen Zacharias
Herald Oregon bureau

HERMISTON -- A highway advisory radio system has been installed along Interstate 84 and other Umatilla and Morrow county roadways to help warn motorists in event of an accident at the Umatilla Chemical Depot.

The system also can be used to tell drivers of other highway emergencies, such as blinding dust or snowstorms. Oregon Department of Transportation, working in conjunction with the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program, installed signs at six sites urging motorists to tune their radios to 1640 AM for emergency information, said Tom Sterandberg, spokesman for Oregon Department of Transportation.

Those signs are along Interstate 84's eastbound lanes at Boardman, Reith Ridge and the highway's westbound lanes at Cabbage Hill. Signs also are at Bombing Range Road south of Boardman; Highway 11 south of Milton-Freewater; and Highway 395 south of Pendleton. The $180,000 system was paid for with CSEPP funds, Sterandberg said. The emergency radio system spans a radius of 15 miles from each sign, with a few notable gaps such as Stanfield, where reception remains a problem, he said.

There are no such signs or emergency radio advisories along Interstate 82 or Highway 730. Those highways cross the border into Washington.

"There is a possibility of working something with Washington, but we haven't firmed anything up yet," Sterandberg said.

However, Sterandberg said motorists along those routes have access to local radio stations that will be giving advisories in the event of an emergency. "The highway advisory will be issued in conjunction with roadblocks. The intent is to advise motorists who might be traveling into the area where they should exit in event of an accident," Sterandberg said.

Transportation officials told county officials at an emergency planning meeting this week that the system will be just one more way to enhance communication with the public.

County Commissioner Dennis Doherty said building redundancy in emergency communication systems is crucial for readiness.

Flashing lights on the signs will warn motorists to tune to the emergency channel, where they likely will hear a prerecorded message. But Doherty said the system also will allow for updates and a live broadcast if necessary.

 

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