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Since You Asked: ODOT will sweep cinders off Interstate 5 Friday Feb 3, 2017 at 12:01 AM Last week, my windshield got hit on two separate days by small rocks flying up from I-5 in the area around Gold Hill and the town of Rogue River. There are now two chips in my windshield. Did ODOT lay down sand and gravel in that area during our recent icy, snowy weather? If so, does ODOT plan to sweep up the material? — Chipped Windshield Lady   Oregon Department of Transportation Spokesman Gary Leaming said the agency did in fact spread material on Interstate 5 to help combat the dangerous road conditions in that area. "We did use cinder on the freeway last month," he said. The material was used in conjunction with de-icer to help drivers. Leaming noted it's unusual to spread sand and cinders in the lowlands of the Rogue Valley in the winter, but this winter has brought an unusual amount of snow to the valley floor. When the cinders dry out, they usually get blown off I-5, but some can linger, get thrown up by the tires of passing vehicles and strike other vehicles, Leaming said. Leaming said ODOT will sweep up the material from the interstate. However, he noted, ODOT could again spread material if snow or icy conditions return.  Meanwhile, people who think their vehicles have suffered damage can call the state Department of Administrative Services at 503-373-7475 and make a claim. Leaming said callers will be questioned closely about incidents they believe caused damage. The department will also contact ODOT to ask about conditions in a particular area. — Send questions to "Since You Asked," Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected]. To see a collection of columns, go to mailtribune.com/youasked. We're sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them.