Oklahoma Department of Transportation Update, 8:30 p.m., Monday

Road Conditions Update 2-25-13 – 8:30 p.m.

Due to blizzard conditions, all highways in the northwestern Oklahoma counties of Beaver, Harper, Ellis, and Woodward are closed until further notice. The whiteout conditions have been periodically halting road clearing efforts. Crews are out in Cimarron, Texas, Woods, Alfalfa and Major counties, and they are reporting slick and hazardous roadways and are treating roads and plowing as needed.

The following highways are now closed as of this evening:

• Garfield/Alfalfa Counties: SH-45 is closed between the Garfield county line and SH-8 in Alfalfa County.
• Canadian Co: US-270 is closed between Calumet and Geary in Canadian County.
• Harper Co: Northbound US-283 is closed between US-64 in Harper County and Englewood, Kansas

In western Oklahoma, roadways are slick and hazardous, and whiteout conditions are reported in Blaine, Dewey and Roger Mills counties. Crews are sanding and salting areas and clearing roadways as needed. The low visibility is periodically halting road clearing efforts. Crews will resume as soon as conditions warrant. Travel there is also discouraged at this time.

Travel is strongly discouraged in these hardest hit areas as stranded motorists can impede road clearing efforts.

In north central Oklahoma, northbound I-35 is narrowed to one lane at mile marker 206 near the Kay/Noble county line due to a weather related accident involving two semis. Crews are reporting heavy blowing snow in the area and travel is strongly discouraged.

I-40 is closed from the Texas/Oklahoma state line west to Albuquerque, N.M. due to heavy snow and blizzard conditions. The Kansas Department of Transportation requested that US-283 be closed at US-64 due to equipment blocking the roadway in Kansas.

Snow has not yet fallen in the Oklahoma City or Tulsa metro areas, but once it intensifies overnight, conditions can change rapidly. Drivers are cautioned to not have a false sense of security for late tonight or the morning commute. Crews are standing by to treat areas as needed.

There are 550 trucks available statewide, including 60 in the Oklahoma City metro area and more than 40 in the Tulsa metro area, all of which are ready and prepared for this round of storms. Sand and salt sheds are stocked and crews are ready to respond to conditions.

Additional crews in areas not expected to get much snow are being mobilized to help with efforts in northern, northwestern and western Oklahoma. Other crews statewide are monitoring conditions as the storm moves across the state today.

During snow and/or ice conditions, motorists are asked to:
·        Check road conditions before getting out on the roads.
·        Stay at least 200 feet behind road-clearing equipment; crews need room to maneuver and can engage plowing or spreading materials without notice.
·        Allow extra space between vehicles, so there is adequate distance for braking in wet and icy conditions.
·        Be aware of “black ice,” which looks wet on the roadway, but is actually a thin layer of ice.
·        Please be patient, plan trips ahead and allow extra time to reach destinations

Out-of-State Road Conditions
Arkansas           800-245-1672
Colorado           303-639-1111
Kansas             866-511-5368
Missouri           800-222-6400
New Mexico         800-432-4269
Oklahoma           888-425-2385
Texas              800-452-9292

To check CURRENT ROAD CONDITIONS, call the Department of Public Safety’s ROAD CONDITIONS HOTLINE at 888-425-2385.

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