FAST FACTS:
(Memphis 2/8/2010) For drivers like Minor Cook, it was a regular Monday.
"I had nothing else to do so I might as well go in and work," said Cook.
Drivers like Cook were the reason Memphis Police and the Tennessee Department of Transportation worked to keep roads like the I-240 flyover clear. It became problematic in the early morning hours.
"Pick up trucks were having a difficult time they also slid towards the inside. We had a tractor trailer that slid towards the wall," is what Lt. Col Mark McClain described as the problems on the highway.
That prompted Memphis Police to make the call to shut down the flyover around 4:30 Monday morning. Officers blocked the overpass, while T-DOT salt trucks got to work salting the highway.
"With heavy traffic it works the sand into the snow which separated and spread it so we don't have any slippery over passes," said Lt. Col. McClain.
Within an hour the overpass, which is traditionally a trouble spot, was back open.
"You can see it's on a steep angle on the rise, so it creates problems," added McClain.
T-DOT says it was a constant effort to keep the flyover clear, which they managed by salting and bringing out snow plows. Several inches of snow, quickly turn into a an icy wet slosh for drivers who opted to pass up taking Monday as a snow day
"I think the powder snow helped it be really icier more than anything," added Cook.
Memphis Police say it was fast action by T-DOT, which got the flyover back in business quickly.
- Snow caused some trouble on the I-240 flyover this morning
- Conditions cause Memphis Police to shut down the overpass
- T-DOT used snow plows and salt to clear the way
(Memphis 2/8/2010) For drivers like Minor Cook, it was a regular Monday.
"I had nothing else to do so I might as well go in and work," said Cook.
Drivers like Cook were the reason Memphis Police and the Tennessee Department of Transportation worked to keep roads like the I-240 flyover clear. It became problematic in the early morning hours.
"Pick up trucks were having a difficult time they also slid towards the inside. We had a tractor trailer that slid towards the wall," is what Lt. Col Mark McClain described as the problems on the highway.
That prompted Memphis Police to make the call to shut down the flyover around 4:30 Monday morning. Officers blocked the overpass, while T-DOT salt trucks got to work salting the highway.
"With heavy traffic it works the sand into the snow which separated and spread it so we don't have any slippery over passes," said Lt. Col. McClain.
Within an hour the overpass, which is traditionally a trouble spot, was back open.
"You can see it's on a steep angle on the rise, so it creates problems," added McClain.
T-DOT says it was a constant effort to keep the flyover clear, which they managed by salting and bringing out snow plows. Several inches of snow, quickly turn into a an icy wet slosh for drivers who opted to pass up taking Monday as a snow day
"I think the powder snow helped it be really icier more than anything," added Cook.
Memphis Police say it was fast action by T-DOT, which got the flyover back in business quickly.
