The Oregon Department of Transportation has instituted a new inspection policy for the Columbia River Gorge Area of Interstate 84 to help enforce tire chain requirements in snowy conditions.

Whenever chain-up requirements are activated, trucks are required to leave I-84 – westbound trucks at milepost 63 exit in Hood River and eastbound trucks at the Cascade Locks weigh station – for inspection to insure compliance with the rules.

Trucks that are properly chained up will be able to re-enter the highway. Vehicles that are not properly prepared for winter travel will have to install traction devices before continuing on. The inspection rules will be in place whenever chain-up requirements have been activated and will affect trucks and not passenger vehicles.

Electronic message signs in both the eastbound and westbound lanes of I-84 will notify trucks that the chain-up requirements are in place and that they will have to exit the highway for inspection

The inspections are a joint effort by ODOT and the Oregon State Police.