Roads Ice Up, Travel Hazardous

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Freezing rain and falling temps make for slippery going
Posted: 2:19 PM Jan 3, 2009
Last Updated: 2:35 PM Jan 4, 2009
Reporter: Jodi Baker
Email Address: sixonline@wowt.com

76 comments

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Rain and sub-freezing temperatures glazed metro streets and sidewalks Saturday, making it difficult to get around.

Drivers are urged to use extreme caution and to be prepared for very slick and hazardous conditions, especially on hills, bridges and overpasses.

Numerous accidents and spin-outs were reported across the metro. Omaha Police stopped responding to property damage accidents in the afternoon, instead, urging drivers to exchange information. Many sidewalks and parking lots remain especially slick.

"It's a little bit slippery,” said Winter Adkins of Omaha. She said she drives "cautiously, very cautiously. I take my time. I make quick decisions and I watch out for other drivers."

"I made it through the neighborhoods without fishtailing into anybody,” said Peter Robinson of Lincoln.

Those who dared to go somewhere on foot didn't fare much better. "Earlier today it wasn't like this," said Shannon Reed of Omaha. "I can't even walk steady. I almost fell a couple of times. I don't know, it's just crazy."

Omaha Public Works trucks had begun focusing on neighborhood streets by 5 p.m., having dealt with the main streets earlier in the day. "What really happened is the cold front came through a little bit quicker than we anticipated,” said Fred Tholle of Omaha Public Works.

Seventy crews had covered the main streets, but it wasn't easy. "There was so much traffic on the road and everybody was trying to be slow and cautious, which is good, and that kept us slowed down quite a bit."

Crews will work through the night hoping to get to all the streets by 6 or 7 a.m. MAT bus service was suspended around 2:30 p.m.

About 1,200 Omaha Public Power District customers lost electricity for more than two hours Saturday night. Spokesman Jeff Hanson tells Channel 6 News the outages occurred just after 6 p.m. across north Omaha into Douglas County, from Dutch Hall Road to State and 52nd to 108th.

Power was restored by 8:30 p.m. Crews determined a cable running under I-680 failed. Customers have been re-routed to a different cable until repairs can be made.

Gusty northwest winds will continue through the night and combined with colder temperatures, will drop wind chills into the 10-to-15-below zero range.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Lisa on Jan 5, 2009 at 12:42 PM
This was by far the worst attempt at public safety I've seen out of Fahey's administration yet. Yes, it was close to 40 degrees and only raining when I went to my husband's installation of officers at noon. By the time we left at 3:40, EVERYTHING was a sheet of ice. The cold front was predicted, the winds picking up was predicted, ALL of this was predicted. Were crews on stand-by at the public works stations? Or did they have to be called in from home? We ended up leaving my car at the lodge and coming home in our truck...a 20 minute trip which took an hour and a half. We only saw TWO salt trucks and they were spinning all over the place. NO one could get up hills, people were spinning out all over the place. We just took it very slow and steady. But this goes back to Fahey's BRIGHT idea of paging city plow drivers WHEN the weather gets bad. No foreplanning there, whatsoever. The trucks should have headed out around 10:30-11 am and there wouldn't have been NEAR the problems.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 5, 2009 at 09:53 AM
Paige, we werent watching, we were laughing, If you want help I will give you some now, this was predicted......STAY HOME if you dont have the vehicle or the ability to drive in such conditions........the people going down the hill were much more amusing

Posted by: To Rick! on Jan 5, 2009 at 09:00 AM
I think you totally missed Erin's point. She's not whining about having to go to work. I think you are missing MOST people's points. If you don't HAVE to go out, i.e. if you have the day off and have the option of staying home, DO THAT! If you have to go out(and for a REAL reason, not just to go to the mall or to lunch with your friends) be careful...Geez! I didn't hear whining coming from Erin. It's the people out for no reason that are the idiots. How do you think the doctors and nurses and fireman and police officers get to work in this weather? The whole city can't shut down. Your comment was definitley one of the rudest comments I have seen on here.

Posted by: m v on Jan 4, 2009 at 09:34 PM
its funny to see pleople still talking on the cell and complainig about the roads.just remember to use snow routes.big street even if you have to go around the block ...if you chose to drive 5mph stay in your right lane or stop and let the cars pass you up. it may be an officer that got called in or a fireman,tow truckdriver,Dr,peramedic, you dont no ?

Posted by: Paige on Jan 4, 2009 at 09:21 PM
I was disheartned by the residents along Blondo north of 120th who just stood there and watched people try to get up the hill. Next time, offer to help.

Posted by: Ryan on Jan 4, 2009 at 05:43 PM
This is the one topic I love to hear people talk about. First and formost learn to drive and SLOW DOWN. My uncle works for the state roads and has to do the Dodge Overpass. I was in Mo valley on my way home in west O and given it took me abot 30 mins. longer but I drove 15 MPH slower and I only spun my tires one time. The funny part was it was on the overpass I am not mad at my uncle on the crew I know that he is doing his best (trying not to get hit by people speeding on the lce) ALL I have to say is be safe and slow down. The road crew have a lot of roads to cover and as you know Someone is going to find some where there is ice and get mad AKA a lot of the other posts here.

Posted by: Jeff on Jan 4, 2009 at 01:11 PM
This is why I moved to Arizona. Don't miss what you're going through one bit. I loved Omaha, just got sick of the ice, cold, snow etc. Be safe folks !!

Posted by: Joy on Jan 4, 2009 at 12:15 PM
Almost everyone is complaining or complaining about some one else who is complaing. Lets focus on comments about the ice, power outages and driving not chewing everyone out.

Posted by: Citizen on Jan 4, 2009 at 12:05 PM
Everyone says stay home? It's called working, I gotta work to pay for gas and school. And yes, I got home that night just fine, going 15 MPH on Dodge Street! If we would have put sand and salt down that morning (thinking ahead) there wouldn't have been people doing donuts in the middle of the road!

Posted by: yo on Jan 4, 2009 at 11:57 AM
I was prepared. I knew the storm was coming. I went early and picked up a couple of movies, filled the firewood box for the fireplace, made sure all my kids were where they needed to be so they were safe, made dinner early, called some people to make sure they knew the storm was coming so they were safe at home, and sat in front of the TV for the endurance of the storm enjoying my movies, fire, dinner and kids.

Posted by: DeAnna on Jan 4, 2009 at 09:38 AM
why did it take the roads dept so log to get started they knew before noon that there was an ice warning and it was raining I blame them for the bad contitions shame on them

Posted by: Natalie on Jan 4, 2009 at 07:58 AM
I worked yesterday from 12-7pm. With a direct view of 72nd and Dodge. We were really slow, so I spent most of my time looking out the windows, and I did not see one City truck drive down either street the whole 7 hours I was working. And those are quite hard to miss as they are BRIGHT orange. It's crazy how the public knows 3 days before hand that there was supposed to be freezing drizzle or whatever, but the city doesn't! (Oh, and Erin has it right, Not everyone has the luxury of working 9-5 Mon-Fri!!)

Posted by: Gwen on Jan 4, 2009 at 07:45 AM
Yes there is a solution that can be laid down prior tot he storm and it really helps..They use it in arear in Germany, lived on mountain and never had problem coming or going when icy, don't know what it is but know it worked..

Posted by: Just Me on Jan 4, 2009 at 06:32 AM
You know after reading many of these posts not everyone has a Monday - Friday 8 am 5p jobs some of us work different shifts and weekends and holidays and we can't call it because the roads are bad neither do we close to let people off early just slow down and take your time be respectable of others.Thank You

Posted by: TOUGH on Jan 4, 2009 at 06:06 AM
I'm not whining, but I live at the bottom of two hills-one on each end of the street I live on. We had to write an email letter to our mayor to get him onto our town's crew to do the hills or we don't get out unless we have a pack mule and sherpas. So stop thinking people are whining when they're just blowing off some steam from what was probably a very scary drive home last night.

Posted by: moreta on Jan 4, 2009 at 02:47 AM
If you put the salt and gravel down too soon it gets pushed to the side or washed away. Omaha is how many sq miles??? Ya think there just might be a truck or several of them out and "gasp" you might not be able to see them. The gene pool seems to get shallower and shallower as the winter goes on. Expect delays and icky weather and plan accordingly. Don't count on the gov to do everything for you.

Posted by: larry on Jan 4, 2009 at 02:32 AM
Get a clue people, they closed all the malls, bus service was stopped, warnings were issued. Using common sense, what more do u need?

Posted by: JK on Jan 4, 2009 at 01:50 AM
I just got home from work and the streets look great. The trucks don't normally get to my Benson neighborhood streets until a few days after snow/ice, but they were out there tonight. I am pretty impressed all in all.

Posted by: Dan on Jan 4, 2009 at 01:44 AM
First off yeah we know omaha has been bad with clean up when it comes to winter conditions BUT its NEBRASKA where everything is unpredictable, sometimes the weather comes in alot faster then expected! If your out an about drive with caution, if you didnt listen its on you" we can blame everything and anything but if it bothers you this much try predicting the weather yourself ;-) and put yourself in someone elses shoes.

Posted by: To Anonymous Leaving UNMC on Jan 4, 2009 at 12:53 AM
If you almost got into a wreck... maybe you shouldn't be driving. Its astounding that everyone complains but the vast majority of us made our destinations just fine without anything significant happening. Its not hard to use a little common sense and be a smart driver. Its Nebraska and rain freezing temps ='s ice. Its really not that hard to figure out.

Posted by: to leave then on Jan 4, 2009 at 12:48 AM
we complain because the mayor and city council think big, expensive, unneeded toys are more important to fund than basic services such as police/fire and road care

Posted by: Victor on Jan 3, 2009 at 11:42 PM
You can't lay salt down 5 hours before an ice storm you idiots. The traffic during that time crushes it and sweeps it away and it doesn't work. And, it is logistically impossible to salt the entire city a half hour before the ice storm. Think people. Seriously.

Posted by: Rick on Jan 3, 2009 at 11:39 PM
I love all the people who are angry that they have to work on Saturday. I mean it is obvious from their comments. So do you get a day off during the week? I bet you do. So quit your wining Erin.

Posted by: Dan on Jan 3, 2009 at 11:38 PM
Oh man, listen to all the winers. I wish you all could have lived back in the 20's and 30's. You people have it so good you have no idea. Heaven forbid the day where something happens where we have to survive because there is going to be alot of dead people laying around.

Posted by: Eric on Jan 3, 2009 at 11:36 PM
Wow, it must be awesome to live in your Utopian society where you have the priveledge of staying home when the weather turns bad. Say "stay home and put another log on the fire" is the most elitest BS I have ever heard. Because of apparently stupid people like us, braving the elements to make it to work, your family members in local hospitals are being taken care of. Secondly, I was on the road at noon when it was only raining. After having lunch, the roads were ice rinks. It took me 1.5 hours to drive from 144th and Center to 72nd and Center. During that time I saw at least 4 city trucks. Apparently, in some peoples narrow vision of how the world works, the plow trucks should be unaffected by things like uh, traffic? Center street was a parking lot, how do you expect 70 trucks to cover the entire city in an hour? Thirdly, I saw only one example of poor driving in all my time on the road this afternoon. A guy changed lanes suddenly and just kept going to the curb. Not bad for Omaha.

Posted by: Leave then on Jan 3, 2009 at 10:58 PM
Whine, whine, whine, whine, whine. That's all you people do. Don't like the plowing service? Move south. You complain they don't have enough trucks then you complain that there is a budget shortfall...seriously is there anything that can make you people happy? Maybe they should have a truck for every single neighborhood with a driver standing by all winter long....you wanna pay for that? Seriously, leave town, or at least quit posting on this board...

Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 3, 2009 at 10:53 PM
There Was no way to be pre pared for the roads. The roads Flash Froze early this afternoon

Posted by: suzy on Jan 3, 2009 at 09:32 PM
I HAVE to go out. I work the weekend and don't have the luxury of staying home on Sat I have to feed my kid. They knew 3 days ago about the ice coming and did nothing to prepare. So many reports of spinouts and problems yet where are the trucks. Lived in NE all my life and Omaha sucks at Winter time. Go to almost any other city and they were prepared and snow plow when needed and do the side streets so your not stuck. Way to go Omaha

Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 3, 2009 at 09:32 PM
I almost got into a Wreck leaving UNMC. II saw 3 fender benders on the way home.

Posted by: Mary on Jan 3, 2009 at 09:22 PM
I am very fortunate to work for a business that closed at 5:30 p.m. instead of 9:00 p.m. It was not fun chipping ice away in the parking lot.

Posted by: Frosty on Jan 3, 2009 at 08:57 PM
Nobody is ever happy with anything this city tries to do. OPD is bagged on, fire/rescue, and now the roads dept. Is it really that bad? No. They do they best with the resources they have. Go out there and salt the streets yourself if you are that worked up about it.

Posted by: just me on Jan 3, 2009 at 08:44 PM
Yes drivers the roads are slick i was nearly in an accident on my way home from the store this was on 120th street and about center good thing i was able to control the car but did do a doughnut in the middle of the road and since i was in an accident on the 19th and totaled my car i was extra careful but you really can't even walk out side w/o falling.

Posted by: C on Jan 3, 2009 at 08:18 PM
I saw a few accidents on my way home from work around 3pm. All of them involved only SUV's and trucks. My point is everyone needs to be careful no matter what you drive.

Posted by: Amazed on Jan 3, 2009 at 08:05 PM
I can't believe how many people whine and complain when the obvious thing to do is to STAY HOME! Do you really need to make that trip to the mall? The only people on the roads should be people who are supposed to work and those treating the streets.

Posted by: Alyson on Jan 3, 2009 at 07:50 PM
All of this is very frustrating and those comments in regards to staying home are correct, however I have to be out due to my job as they are not very forgiving with unplanned time away from work. Whatever the reason for being out everyone should go very, very slow and keep a good distance.

Posted by: J on Jan 3, 2009 at 07:18 PM
HORRIBLE road conditions, some of the worst I've ever been in and I'm not young....get that salt out before you have deaths out there Omaha!

Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 3, 2009 at 07:17 PM
its ice people. that means no one can control their vehicle no matter what type it is. the city is smart to have less trucks out to lessen their liability. people want the government to act like a business, thats what a business would do.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 3, 2009 at 07:16 PM
i drove 4 miles roundtrip to westroads to pick up my kids because i didnt want them to drive in this. i saw 2 city trucks, one on blondo and the other on 102nd north of blondo. just because YOU didnt see any city trucks doesnt mean they arent out there. they could have been a few blocks behind you or maybe in front of you.

Posted by: Stupid People Suck on Jan 3, 2009 at 07:15 PM
I find it funny that everyone sits here and complains because roads are bad. Maybe it should be a sign to stay home and shut up. You people are never happy. Its winter. Trucks can only do so much. Grow up!

Posted by: Bre on Jan 3, 2009 at 07:14 PM
I was out early this morning an which the roads were fine...but when I left home 2hrs later the roads were terrible. I was sliding all over the place an I was saying where are the dang oh trucks when we need them!!! They need to stop being lazy an do some dang oh work...seriously!

Posted by: Amy on Jan 3, 2009 at 07:12 PM
I saw an older lady fall flat on her back at the grocery store. She got up and walked away. She said she was fine, but I bet she's sore now. Bet the ERs are busy with fall injuries.

Posted by: al on Jan 3, 2009 at 07:11 PM
Gina: Sounds like you should take your own advice, and STAY HOME. Why are you out with "all your kids" when you know it's dangerous?

Posted by: erin on Jan 3, 2009 at 07:10 PM
Bill, some of us were at work when the storm started, and I would like to get home safe to my family...not everyone works 9-5 M-F! I think the snow removal this year hasn't been that great, either...

Posted by: debbie on Jan 3, 2009 at 07:00 PM
Anyone know whats its like around 108 and center? spose to be heading to a party there

Posted by: Jennifer on Jan 3, 2009 at 06:19 PM
Stop whinning people. If you want to get out you will. As for the trucks, it's not their fault totally. Why treat wet roads, when it started freezing afternoon, however nobody knew it would get this bad either. I suppose if there is two inches of snow, you people will start gripping that no crews are out scraping the roads. I have never seen a state or city that complains so much as I have with Nebraska.

Posted by: To Citizen on Jan 3, 2009 at 06:01 PM
The roads this moing were fine. No Reason to waste road salt on wet roads as it would not help later. With salt in such short supply around the country the city is bette off to wait until it is needed to use it and there was very little warning to crews the way the temps dropped

Posted by: yes its true! on Jan 3, 2009 at 05:44 PM
be very careful i almost did a spin on 99th and blondo!

Posted by: David on Jan 3, 2009 at 05:43 PM
Previous storms we had the trucks out sanding the streets the night before, Why wasn't that done now?!?

Posted by: Brian on Jan 3, 2009 at 05:34 PM
Response to citizen. Get used to it. Meaning about the snow plows/city crews. The snow before the x-mas holiday I saw only 1 plows in omaha on my journey from 204th street to downtown omaha.

Posted by: Andrew on Jan 3, 2009 at 05:23 PM
On my drive home I saw one COUNT one salt truck..People were stuck at lights, couldn't get up hills, couldn't stop. Hell people were on there cellphones DRIVING...How pathetic. It's every year that when we get snow or ice everybody forgets hwo to drive in it. All I did was stay 10 MPH and I had no problems anywhere. I see people spinning tires up hills, when it wasn't necessary. People wake up, get prepared, and get off your dang cell phones while driving!

Posted by: come on on Jan 3, 2009 at 05:20 PM
yup, this is Nebraska....wait 5 minutes and the weather will change,ever heard that saying?? If they would have put salt down after the drizzle somebody would be crying they wasted their tax payer dollars on road crews and salt. Stop whining. It's nature.

Posted by: Chuck on Jan 3, 2009 at 05:19 PM
Can anyone tell me how the roads are in old town Bellevue?

Posted by: susan knight on Jan 3, 2009 at 05:17 PM
We live near 40th and Dodge and we finally chopped away the ice from the last storm, this week! Took the city forever to do our neighborhood. Now here we go again. Cant they get a head start sanding/salting before now?

Posted by: Dear Citizen on Jan 3, 2009 at 05:16 PM
Brace up, this is Nebraska. You shouldn't be out in the first place running around on a day like this. Geez.

Posted by: Rachel on Jan 3, 2009 at 05:12 PM
Are there any updates on road conditions? I already tried to leave work a few hours ago and it was horror.

Posted by: Sarah on Jan 3, 2009 at 05:09 PM
Sure, we should be prepared but how much do you think Public Works had their budget cut this year????

Posted by: marsha on Jan 3, 2009 at 04:56 PM
Yes, why didn't they start this morning when the signs were all there. Also, the Omaha Community Playhouse should postphone tonights performance so as not to put a sold out crowd in jeapardy trying to get there.

Posted by: Reality Czech on Jan 3, 2009 at 04:53 PM
Good night to stay home and put another log on the fire.

Posted by: Buddy on Jan 3, 2009 at 04:50 PM
No bucks available for stuff we all need like street maintenance but big dollars available for a silly new baseball stadium that only 5% of residents will use. Thankfully most of the roads I drive are maintained by the state.

Posted by: Connie on Jan 3, 2009 at 04:39 PM
I agree. I am from MN and I am very surprised by how unprepared Omaha is during winter weather. Road crews should be out before the storms start. I just left a 5 car crash on 370 between 84th and HWY50. It was like ice-skating the whole way. Very dangerous. Be careful.

Posted by: George on Jan 3, 2009 at 04:39 PM
This is some of the worst driving I seen in this city in many years. Is the city trying to save funds by not putting out a great deal of salt during this ice storm?

Posted by: Kathleen on Jan 3, 2009 at 04:38 PM
I agree with Tax Payer! Where are the salt trucks? We are stuck out here off of 180th and Harrison. Mr. Mayor??

Posted by: Gina on Jan 3, 2009 at 04:37 PM
I slid down a hill towards a major street with all my kids in the van. I was lucky to be able to regain control without incident. STAY HOME!

Posted by: ed on Jan 3, 2009 at 04:32 PM
the general public are idiots. do you honestly think that no one is out? just because you have not seen a truck means zero. it is an ice storm. STAY HOME.

Posted by: Kyle on Jan 3, 2009 at 04:31 PM
I agree with "citizen". This is probably been one of the worst years I've seen with the lack of city services in terms of snow and ice removal. Did a new big man take over recently? If so they are dropping the ball!!

Posted by: MAD on Jan 3, 2009 at 04:25 PM
Yeah lets wait until the storm is almost over then called out the sand trucks, i think that this city need to figure out where all their tax money is going b/c its not going to slick/ snowy roads for safety.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 3, 2009 at 04:25 PM
So I was lucky. I did a complete 360 headed down Blair High Road. Whew.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 3, 2009 at 04:21 PM
Where are all the trucks at to put sand and salt down. I havent seen one out today. Luckily I am home for the evening but everyone else I recommend staying home if you dont have anything that HAS to be done. It is horrible. It took me 45 minutes to go from 108 and Q to 96th and Harrison. It was like a game of pinball. Cars hitting curbs and car hitting other cars. I was scared. I left to go get my hair cut and the roads were wet. By the time I got done everything was ice. If I would have known it was going to be this bad out I would have cancelled my appt for a different day. I guess thats what I get for not watching the weather.

Posted by: Suzy on Jan 3, 2009 at 04:17 PM
When they know ice is coming no truck after snow falls snow trucks however neighborhoods get passed once and straight cement on the highway gets plowed 3-4 times BAD job omaha go through the neighborhood a day later to clean up the icy slop, and get the trucks out before the 3 days ago predicted ice drizzle

Posted by: bill on Jan 3, 2009 at 04:17 PM
You people crack me up! You complain when the trucks are out wasting material and racking up overtime and then you turn around and complain when thet haven't got everywhere yet. Here's a brainflash,,,,stay home! At least we won't have to worry about some other schmuck who thought they were a better driver than everyone else. Let the crews and emergency responders get out there and do their jobs. Oh I forgot, that trip to the bar you just can't wait for. What is so important that it can't wait?

Posted by: Helen on Jan 3, 2009 at 04:07 PM
just watched a car spin in a circle 3 times on 96th and Fort. Stay home!

Posted by: Old Man Winter on Jan 3, 2009 at 03:58 PM
Yup its winter deal with it....

Posted by: citizen on Jan 3, 2009 at 03:48 PM
Where are those city crews? 70 crews?! We need more than that! This is NEBRASKA!! I have been very disappointed with the city snow removal service this year. This is my first year driving in the snow, but I was not expecting Omaha to be so unprepared for this! Why didn't we put salt and sand down this morning when it first started drizzling? If we would have, then there wouldn't be people unable to stop at lights and stop signs!

Posted by: Robyn on Jan 3, 2009 at 03:42 PM
Oh be sooooo careful out there - take it good and slow - the streets are so nasty.

Posted by: Dave on Jan 3, 2009 at 03:23 PM
Just got a call from a friend at72nd Sorenson. Fire truck stuck at intersection due to ice. Cars unable to move about. My neighborhood is a sheet of ice.

Posted by: Tax Payer on Jan 3, 2009 at 02:45 PM
And NO SALT TRUCKS to be seen! Come on!!!