With ice lingering in Jackson, road conditions remain hazardous

JACKSON, Tenn. — Effects of the recent winter storm are still having a negative impact here in West Tennessee.

Locally, residents are finding driving to be hazardous and growing impatient as they wait for roads to be cleared.

Many returned to the roadways Tuesday, but as could be seen outside, the conditions remained hazardous.

Residents have waited three days for conditions to improve and have seen little to no change in the Hub City.

Many people took to social media to voice their concerns and question why improvements have not been made.

Several highly traveled roadways here in the Hub City are patchy. Some areas are slick with ice and some are clear from tire tracks.

“I understand folks’ frustrations, look I get it,” said Austin Clark, Director of Jackson’s Public Works Department. “We’ve been reporting 24 hours a day, around the clock.”

Clark says they’ve utilized identical preparation methods as previous years, but with frigid temperatures and precipitation, the salt they laid down in advance proved ineffective.

“Beginning of this winter weather event on Saturday, our crews were out at midnight,” said Clark. “We applied roughly about 200 tons of granulated salt, sodium chloride to the streets.”

They even doubled down and put an additional layer of salt on top of frozen main streets Sunday night, but Clark says it’s had no impact. It’s been all hands on deck at the street level.

“They’ve been on the streets plowing since 6 o’clock this morning,” said Clark. “We have seven plow trucks, salt trucks, that we have on the roads at all times.”

But we’re told equipment has been malfunctioning.

Officials have continuously urged community members to stay off the roads, but not everyone can stay at home.

“They haven’t stopped driving,” said Terrence Williams, Jackson resident.

Williams said he noticed traffic on Campbell Street continues to flow even with ice and snow on the roads.

“Everyone hasn’t had any problems with going up the hill or down the hill on Campbell Street anyways, all I can speak on,” Williams said.

With 1,300 hundred miles of streets to plow, the public works department says they’re moving as fast as they can.

As West Tennesseans begin to return to work, officials urge you all to be careful on the roadways.

The Public Works Department estimates freedom of movement throughout the city should return to normal by Thursday.

As you continue to travel, beware of the dangers of black ice. Reduce your speed, avoid sudden movements, and do not slam on your brakes.

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