OAR 734-020-0150: Temporary Closure or Conditional Closure of Highways

(1) When weather conditions or road conditions constitute a danger of highway damage or a danger to the safety of the driving public, the Chief Engineer, Region Manager, or District District Manager or Assistant District Manager may prohibit the operation upon such highway or section of a highway of any or all vehicles, or any class or kind of vehicles. (2) Such prohibition of vehicles may result in total closure or conditional closures of highways or highway sections. Conditional closures may, in the discretion of the Chief Engineer, Region Manager, District Manager or Assistant District Manager, include but not be limited to prohibition of the following classes or kinds of vehicles: (a) Vehicles or combinations exceeding a specified gross weight; (b) Vehicles in combinations exceeding a specified length; (c) Vehicles and loads exceeding a specified height; (d) Combinations of vehicles or vehicles pulling trailers; or (e) Vehicles, or certain classes of vehicles or combinations without tire chains. (3) Closures or conditional closures should be accomplished by physically barricading or blocking the highway, with placement of appropriate warning signs or devices, and where possible signing indicating conditional closure with types of vehicles allowed or prohibited. Department of Transportation employees may be stationed, when practical, at the barricade to offer information and assistance, and to enforce a conditional closure. Whenever possible, law enforcement agencies should be contacted and their assistance requested to aid in the enforcement of the closure or conditional closure. (4) Road closures and conditional closures are to exist only on a temporary basis and should be removed as soon as road conditions or weather conditions permit, the hazard has been removed, and the danger to the highway or the driving public no longer exists.