The Oregonian
SALEM Snowstorms in December and January swallowed
almost a quarter of the $18 million the Oregon Department
of Transportation budgeted for winter maintenance costs this
fiscal year, preliminary figures show.
Transportation crews used almost 90,000 cubic yards of sand
and 150,000 gallons of anti-icing chemical on state highways,
said Doug Tindall, the agency's state highway maintenance
engineer.
The storms cost the agency about $3.8 million. It would recoup
about $1.65 million from the federal government if President
Bush declares an emergency, which Gov. Ted Kulongoski has
asked him to do.
The winter maintenance budget pays for plowing, sanding,
and fixing potholes and other damage caused by the weather.
In Region 1, which encompasses the Portland area, 12 days
of cold weather cost about $1.2 million out of $3 million
budgeted in supplies and pay, spokesman Dave Thompson
said. That includes $450,000 for more than 15,000 cubic yards
of sand, $26,000 for 51,100 gallons of de-icer and $20,000
to replace 111 rubber snowplow blades, he said.
The region spent $400,000 in overtime and regular pay for
175 workers.