Snowstorm causes widespread icy roads, road closures across Middle Georgia
Roads across Middle Georgia remain treacherous Wednesday morning after a snowstorm blanketed the region yesterday, leaving icy conditions and closures on major highways.
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Roads across Middle Georgia remain treacherous Wednesday morning after a snowstorm blanketed the region yesterday, leaving icy conditions and closures on major highways.
Officials are urging drivers to stay off the roads as temperatures remain well below freezing.
The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office issued an advisory at 8:06 a.m. warning drivers to avoid I-75 and I-475.
Traffic crawl: Southbound I-75 near Hartley Bridge Road bumper-to-bumper after an 18-wheeler jackknifed. Northbound lanes remained clear as of 10:23 a.m.
“We are working with GDOT to get all roads back open,” the advisory stated. “We do not have an estimated time for when the roads will be safe for travel.” Drivers were also cautioned about black ice on bridges and overpasses. The sheriff’s office says all non-essential travel should be postponed until further notice.
The City of Warner Robins is providing real-time updates on closures and de-icing efforts.
In Perry, police described dire conditions on I-75 southbound. A Facebook post from the Perry Police Department at 8:24 a.m. stated, “Please stay off the I-75. Southbound is a parking lot from the 135mm south. Emergency vehicles will not be able to get to you.” That followed a post by the department an hour earlier warning that “all interstates in Middle Georgia are closed!”
The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has reported multiple closures on I-75 and I-475 due to crashes and icy conditions. According to a 6:03 a.m. post on GDOT’s 511 Facebook page, all lanes of I-75 northbound near Hawkinsville Road in Dooly County (mile marker 117) were closed, with an estimated reopening time of 9 a.m. Similarly, I-475 northbound past Zebulon Road in Bibb County (mile marker 10.6) is fully closed, GDOT reported at 5:34 a.m., also with an estimated reopening time of 9 a.m.
Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency said the county does not have equipment to clear roads of ice and snow. “We have to rely on sunshine and rising temperatures,” the agency wrote in a social media post, adding that drivers should treat every road as if it is solid ice.
In Twiggs County, GDOT reported just after 9 a.m. that all lanes were blocked on I-16 W near Jeffersonville/Bullard Road (mm 13) due to a crash.
At 9:55 a.m,. the Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office warned drivers that I-16 near mile marker 9 eastbound, as well as mile marker 22 westbound, were shut down due to ice and the number of crashes.
The Monroe County Emergency Management Agency warned of widespread ice covering local roads and reported stranded vehicles across the area. I-75 north remained at a standstill early Wednesday morning after vehicles were unable to climb the hill near Johnstonville Road Tuesday night. In a 6:14 a.m. Facebook post, the agency listed several trouble spots, including:
- U.S. 41 South at Shi Road: A stranded U-Haul truck in the southbound lane.
- Blount and Garr Roads: A stranded car at the intersection.
- Smith Road between Collier Road and Harper Lane: Over 20 vehicles scattered in ditches.
- I-75 northbound at mile marker 190 to Johnstonville Road: Clearing efforts continue for an earlier blockage.
The post cautioned that temperatures will not rise above freezing until after 1 p.m., and even then, only by a few degrees for a short period.
GDOT added in an 8:17 a.m. post that two left lanes on I-75 southbound past Sardis Church Road in Macon (mile marker 153) were blocked due to a crash and urged drivers to avoid the area and expect delays.
With temperatures unlikely to thaw the ice until later this afternoon, authorities continue to stress the importance of limiting travel to life-essential needs only.
