Tulsa Roads May Be Iced And Dangerous

By Dan Bewley, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- The roads are quickly turning into sheets of ice Saturday night.

The News On 6 SKYCAM Network caught a car in a ditch off Highway 75, just south of I-44. The driver was trying to get back onto the road, but finally gave up and got a ride.

That driver isn't alone.

Between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, EMSA paramedics responded to 19 wrecks on Tulsa area roadways. Eight of the 19 occurred on US-169 and another four on the Broken Arrow Expressway.

News On 6 Meteorologist Dick Faurot says Saturday night to Sunday morning, the primary issue is subfreezing temperatures and the slick roads that will result. Also, there have been some breaks in the clouds going into Saturday evening and with nearly calm winds, it could result in some patchy fog developing overnight Sunday. It would be an ice fog, which would deposit a glaze of black ice on the already slick and treacherous roadways.

Read more in The News On 6 Weather Discussion.

On Saturday night, a police cruiser slid into a semi while trying to get on the Broken Arrow Expressway at Harvard. No one was injured, but the mishap forced a traffic tie-up.

I-44 looked clear of snow and ice Saturday afternoon, but the roads were still wet and some drivers had trouble even before the temperature dropped. 

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation has 30 trucks covering Tulsa County but warns as the night progresses, the roads will continue to get slick making it dangerous overnight Sunday and in the early morning.

"So drivers really need to be careful out there in the overnight hours. Use just extreme caution when they're on bridges or overpasses or when they're entering or exiting a highway," said Kenna Mitchell, of ODOT.

Tulsa city streets present much of the same problem.

"It's a race against time now," said Darren Stefanek, streets maintenance manager.

Crews are busy clearing downtown Tulsa in preparation for the Monday morning rush.

"The object (Friday) was to get the snow off the street so we could get it down to where the sun could be effective," said Darren Stefanek.

City officials say keeping the 1,700 miles of streets in Tulsa clear of ice overnight Sunday will be a big challenge. And like ODOT, they ask drivers to be extra careful and expect to find ice that you may not be able to see.

ODOT Road Conditions Report as of 10 a.m. Sunday:

Progress continues to clear snow and ice from Oklahoma's highways and interstates. Following a re-freeze on roadways overnight Sunday, slick spots are bring reported this morning in counties across the state. ODOT crews are continuing round-the-clock clearing operations in many areas today.

With more anticipated melting of snow and ice today, drivers need to be alert for black ice conditions returning as night falls. Slick spots can quickly develop, and drivers should plan for slower travel tonight.

Ramps also remain rough in some areas as crews initially focus on clearing the driving lanes. In much of the state, rural highway remain patchy and slick in spots.

Drivers are reminded to stay at least 200 feet behind road-clearing equipment, for both their safety and the safety of the operators. During snow and/or ice conditions, motorists are asked to:

• Be aware that conditions are continually changing; drive cautiously and for the conditions on the roadway.
• 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.
• Be patient, plan trips ahead and allow extra time to reach destinations.

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

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

You can track weather with WARN Interactive Radar and get safety tips in our Storm Zone Section.

You can get the latest WARN Team forecast in the NewsOn6.com Weather section.

View our SKYCAM Network.