Salem, OR : Dozens of crashes keep crews busy, slow warmup underway on Friday, February 3rd 2017

Icy roads and slick conditions caused by a freezing rainstorm moving through the metro area Friday morning led to dozens of crashes and numerous freeway backups.

Police Sgt. Chris Burley said 68 calls were made to 911 for help in crashes in Multnomah County alone from midnight Thursday through 10:30 a.m. Friday. Firefighters, police officers or road workers -- navigating metro area roads and bridges covered with ice -- responded to all but six calls. Those were canceled after motorists cleared their cars from the road.

Sixteen crashes resulted in injuries, but dispatchers were too busy to say how many people were taken to the hospital, Burley said. By early afternoon no fatalities had been reported.How's the afternoon commute looking? It shouldn't be as icy as the morning, meteorologist Colby Neuman told The Oregonian/OregonLive midmorning. But freezing rain will continue sporadically through the evening, Neuman said.

Temperatures will linger in the low to mid-30s Friday, he said, and should warm up to the 40s on Saturday for most of the metro area. A winter weather advisory remains in effect until 4 a.m. Saturday.

"Even when it's raining, the sun's energy is helping heat up the ground," Neuman said.

Many bus lines are running without chains and are getting back on their usual schedules and routes, TriMet said Friday afternoon. Buses running with chains can't travel faster than 25 mph. Several bus lines are running on snow routes or have been canceled altogether.

Icy overhead wires have caused delays on all MAX lines, TriMet said. The agency urges travelers to check its website for service information.

C-Tran said its express routes in Portland will resume full service for the afternoon commute.

Kimberly Dinwiddie, Oregon Department of Transportation spokeswoman, said more than 100 trucks and 100 road workers toiled overnight dumping salt on the Sylvan Hill area on U.S. 26 between the Oregon Zoo and Vista Ridge tunnel. Crews used sand and magnesium chloride solutions on other highways of the metro area to combat the icy roads.

"We're thankful for the people who heeded the advice and avoided driving," she said. "We want to thank the people who made changes in their day."

By 11:35 a.m., the Portland Bureau of Transportation reports six streets closed because of ice and one street because of downed trees or power lines.

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Dozens of crashes keep crews busy, slow warmup underway