MEMPHIS, Tenn — Road crews for both the City of Memphis and the Tennessee Department of Transportation were out treating roads again Thursday with a refreeze expected to create even more dangerous driving conditions on Friday.
With black ice and frozen roads expected, they are telling Mid-South residents to stay home.
Memphis Public Works Director Robert Knecht said their trucks have been out laying down salt and sand, prioritizing major thoroughfares as well as bridges, inclines and declines.
But there is only so much they can do.
“We need the weather to warm up in order to really clear out the majority of our streets, and that’s not going to happen for a few more days,” Knecht said.
TDOT is also helping the city clear the roads around hospitals and other emergency services.
“We collaborate and make sure that with this last round of refreeze, we can go out and help them and assist getting the areas clear into all the hospitals,” said Nichole Lawrence with TDOT Communications.
That’s in addition to laying down salt and salt brine on area highways and interstates.
Lawrence said that between Sunday and Wednesday, TDOT Help Trucks have assisted close to 250 stranded drivers.
Not wanting to join them, Cordova resident Mark Dunlap said he has been using his four-wheeler to get around in the snow and ice.
“The whole family’s been using the four-wheeler to get everywhere they need to go,” he said. “Walgreens, mainly up here to Walmart.”
But Dunlap said he’s not going anywhere Friday, especially after seeing cars spin out on the roads on Thursday.
“Because tomorrow’s going to be worse than everything,” Dunlap said. “It’s going to be solid ice out here.”
Knetch said teams were plowing the roads as much as possible Thursday, but the freezing rain limited how much ground they can cover.
“It’s pretty dangerous,” Dunlap said. “If you need to stay home, stay home.”
TDOT said they have salt bins strategically placed throughout the Memphis-Shelby County area, like the river bridges, Flyover and 385, so crews can melt any ice as soon as possible.