DALLAS – As many parts of the state remain frozen and slick, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) reminds Texans that extreme cold, freezing rain, ice, and snow can pose significant hazards to drivers and pedestrians.
Most areas in North Texas are coated in a layer of ice, sleet and snow, and those conditions are reflected on DriveTexas. Those conditions are expected to remain until late in the morning on Tuesday.
FOX 4 is keeping track of road conditions Monday, as many North Texans return to work after a weekend winter storm.
North Texas Road Conditions – Monday, Jan. 25
Local perspective:
Well, if you’re out on the roads, there’s no avoiding the sound of this winter storm. Especially for drivers like Alicia Shaw who’s had to drive her son to work.
“So today is better but it’s still… you have to drive in the grooves, you can’t drive in the ice or the snow,” said Shaw. “Yes, well luckily my job has said that we can work from home, but my son has to go work, like I said, he’s a nurse so hopefully he can make it down to Parkland tomorrow.”
Those grooves are clearly visible during daytime and into the nighttime in Plano. Drivers sticking to the middle of roadways.
Plano officials allowed FOX 4 into its traffic management center. The cameras throughout the city provide a look at road conditions.
“We’re looking at all of the intersections and making sure that we can understand traffic signals and traffic patterns in the city,” said a Plano official.
If any issues are spotted, it’s able to take action. Like, change the timing of traffic signals or sending a crew to help.
FOX 4’s David Sentendrey rode along with City of Plano’s drainage supervisor, Justin McCabe, who has worked for Plano for 22 years
“Right now we’re following one of our sand trucks,” said McCabe.
Intersections with signals will continue to get sand treatment until roads clear up.
“As the night goes on and the water starts freezing, it’ll help it from freezing as much and the traction for the vehicles and tires.”
7:45 p.m.: DART bus service update
Dallas Area Rapid Transit will end their bus services at 10 p.m. Monday night.
They plan on resuming bus services at 7 a.m. Tuesday morning.
All DART trains are operating to all stations.
6:40 p.m.: Several accidents on 75
Several incidents occurred on US-75 on Monday, causing lanes to be closed.
FOX 4’s Steven Dial reports seeing lane closures at the following exits:
- Single vehicle accident at southbound Mockingbird St exit
- Single vehicle accident at southbound Lovers Lane exit
4:50 p.m.: Car flips in accident near I-20
A car flipped after an accident near Westcreek Drive and I-20. No major injuries were reported.
4:45 p.m.: Dallas side roads still icy, main highways slushy
Dallas roads: Highways slushy, side roads still icy
Many Dallas drivers took to the streets Monday after staying home during the weekend due to the winter storm. FOX 4’s Steven Dial was on the roads and has a report on what they look like after the sun came out Monday in Dallas.
After a weekend indoors due to the storm, many North Texas drivers ventured out into the cold on Monday.
They found secondary roads still icy from the winter storm.
“My car got stuck when I was going to pick up my daughter,” Eddie Aguirru told FOX 4’s Steven Dial.
Dial saw several vehicles stuck. One driver on Skillman Road in Dallas ended up driving into oncoming traffic after losing traction.
“Slow. Real slow,” Kori Ingram told Dial of her trip to the gas station. “We were sliding a couple of times but we made it here.”
Highways, like US-75, were filled with slush, but are likely to refreeze overnight.
4:30 p.m.: Lane closures on eastbound I-20 near Benbrook
10 a.m.: More trouble on I-30
9:30 a.m.: Slow down!
Traffic reporter Chip Waggoner is pleading with people to slow down on the highways. He’s not suggesting that anyone leave home. But if you have to, take it slow. Most of the crashes he’s seen this morning happen after people who are going too fast hit icy patches.
9 a.m.: Current conditions
8:35 a.m.: False sense of security
Bridges and overpasses are still pretty difficult. Traffic reporter Chip Waggoner said there are also areas of “deception.”
“There are sections where the roadway is not bad. The treatment has really done a number on the ice in the main lanes to the point where people are driving on pavement. But here’s the problem. You’re driving on pavement, and you get this false sense of security. ‘Oh, I’m good. I’m good. Oh, here’s some ice.’ Then you instinctively tap the brakes, you lose control immediately on the ice, and you run into another vehicle, and there you go,” he said.
8 a.m.: SKY 4 Over Dallas
7:45 a.m.: Chip’s Advice
“It’s just dangerous out there. So, when you do have to get out on the roadways, you have two choices. You can either choose wisely or you can choose poorly, like this guy did, going way too fast given the conditions,” Chip said
7:40 a.m.: LBJ at Marsh Lane
7:20 a.m.: Overall road conditions in Dallas
If you can stay home, please do. The roads are still pretty icy out there. Thankfully, most people are staying home, and there are no major accidents in the Dallas area at this moment.
7:10 a.m.: Trouble spots on I-30 and I-35E
7 a.m.: Hwy. 360 at Hwy. 183
6:15 a.m.: I-30 at Walton Walker Blvd. and Hwy. 67 at Red Bird Lane
6 a.m.: State Hwy. 114 in Grapevine
SH 114 in Grapevine is expected to reopen at 9 a.m. It was closed overnight in both directions due to “other conditions.”
5:30 a.m.: Conditions near White Rock Lake
4:45 a.m.: Hwy. 360 at Hwy. 183
4:30 a.m.: Denton County roads
4:15 a.m.: Road conditions
Track Icy Road Conditions
If the roads are icy, the best thing you can do is stay home. If you must drive in inclement weather, allow additional time to reach your destination and share your travel plans with a friend or family member, so someone knows the route you’re taking.
If you must drive in inclement weather, allow additional time to reach your destination and share your travel plans with a friend or family member, so someone knows the route you’re taking.
When driving on icy roads, drive slowly and increase the distance between your vehicle and others when stopping. Do not use cruise control during poor driving conditions and ensure your vehicle has a full tank of gas before you head out.
Safety officials tell Texans to be aware and approach bridges and overpasses slowly as ice can accumulate before drivers are able to see it on the roads. Drivers should also watch for downed trees and power lines. If a stoplight is out, treat the intersection as a four-way stop.
Safe driving protocols
What you can do:
Safety officials ask Texans to keep a well-stocked emergency kit with warm clothes, food, water, cell phone battery/charger and first aid items.
Here are some other tips to help you stay ahead of winter weather:
- Use an all-hazards weather radio for up-to-date warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information.
- Sign up for calls or texts from your local emergency notification system.
- Insulate outside faucets and pipes near outer walls.
- Make sure furnaces, heaters, fireplaces and wood stoves are clean, well-ventilated and in good working condition.
- Keep space heaters at least three feet away from walls and combustible materials and make sure to turn them off when you’re away or sleeping. (Also ensure that space heaters cannot tip over and that the cord is not damaged)
- Check on friends and family members whose health or age may put them at greater risk.
- Stock up on firewood and supplies, including canned goods, bottled water and medication.
- Ensure your vehicle’s safety by making sure doors and trunk locks are properly lubricated to prevent them from freezing. Also, check your vehicle’s battery, windshield wipers, tire pressure and tire tread.
Texas DPS also recommends individuals to check their vehicle’s fluid levels and have a well-stocked emergency kit that includes warm clothes, food, water, cell phone battery/charger and first aid items.
Have a way to get updates
Watch live coverage on your phone
With severe winter weather on the way this weekend, you should have a way to get important updates if the power goes out.
The FOX LOCAL app will allow you to stay up to date with livestreams, the latest forecasts, news stories and weather alerts in real time, all from your mobile phone or tablet.
- Stay connected with FOX 4 News. For winter storm coverage — Download Now.
Get county emergency alerts
You can also sign up to get alerts sent to your phone from your county’s emergency office.
The Source: Information in this article comes from TxDOT, Traffic reporter Chip Waggoner, and previous FOX 4 coverage.
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