Snow, ice, vehicles leave roads impassable: Alabama National Guard clears interstate
Ice, snow, and vehicles are blocking highways and roads across a wide swath of Alabama in the wake of Tuesday’s historic winter storm.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s posts in Dothan and in Troy reported at 8:30 a.m. that all county roads, state and federal highways are considered impassable in 10 counties – Barbour, Coffee, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Butler, Covington, Crenshaw and Pike.
In Dale County, U.S. 231 northbound and southbound was shut down from the 50 to the 53 mile marker.
“There are no reports of crashes currently, just multiple vehicles, tractor trailers and passenger cars that are stuck due to icy/snow conditions,” ALEA said.
In Lee County, the Emergency Management Agency reported at 6 a.m. that all county roads are deemed impassable and many roads in eastern Lee County were blocked by commercial vehicles and ice.
In Auburn, roadways were dangerously slick at impassable, the EMA said, with barricades placed around many roads. Drivers are told not to drive around the barricades.
Many roads were impassable in Opelika, and all bridges are closed. The Alabama National Guard and heavy-duty wreckers were working to clear semi-trucks stuck along I-85 between exit 58 and exit 64.
In Smiths Station, all roads were deemed impassable.
The Alabama Department of Transportation is urging drivers to exercise “extreme caution” Wednesday morning with dangerous black ice possible on state roadways.
Black ice is a thin, invisible layer of ice that can make driving conditions extremely treacherous, increasing the risk of crashes.
ALDOT said its crews will be working to clear snow and apply de-icing agents to bridges and roadways, but icy patches may remain on seemingly passable surfaces.