HPP: Both directions of Interstate 70 are currently closed, beginning at the Missouri state line in Kansas City and continuing all the way to the Ellsworth County line in western Kansas.
Aside from that, all of the highways in the counties of Marshall, Nemaha, Brown, Doniphan, Riley, Pottawatomie, Jackson, Atchison, Wabaunsee, Shawnee, Jefferson, Leavenworth, Lyon, Osage, Douglas, Wyandotte, and Johnson are currently closed.
KDOT has stated that the closures were caused by low visibility, conditions that were impassable, and extreme winter weather.
“his storm has not been easy for snowplow drivers, KDOT, MoDOT, local folks or motorists. There are some crews in North Central Kansas that have had to cease snow-clearing operations because snow plows kept sliding off the roadway, as well as motorists. So these are very dangerous conditions,” Delaney Tholen, KDOT’s KC Metro Public Affairs Manager stated.
As the snowstorm continues, the Kansas Department of Transportation warns against any travel that is not considered an emergency.
In spite of the fact that MoDOT crews are concentrating their efforts on key highways and interstates, some snow crews have encountered blockages due to reduced visibility.
“We’ve had to pull some crews off the roads actually to basically just give them a break and also because they really couldn’t even see what they were doing. So that’s going to impede their progress a little bit,” Melissa Black, MoDOT’s Kansas City District Communications manager stated. “We’re still trying to focus on the interstates and major routes. So we haven’t made progress anywhere else.”
Roads on the Kansas side are being reopened by crews, with key routes receiving priority. The weather will determine how far we can go.
Officials from KDOT advise folks to avoid driving until Monday.
“Road conditions throughout the metro are not safe for travel. Folks are advised to stay home when possible. The roads are snow packed and the visibility is very low. So stay home,” Tholen said.
“I’m thinking that Monday morning is still going to be pretty slick in a lot of places. Probably still a lot of snow on most of our routes because we have still been, like I said, just fighting those interstates and major routes,” Black stated “So a lot of the areas we still haven’t been able to get to yet.”
People are reminded by MoDOT to keep a minimum of 100 feet away from snowplow trucks.
Slow down, buckle up, and keep an emergency kit in your car if you have to travel. In Kansas, you can dial *47 on Kansas highways or *582 on the Kansas Turnpike if you need roadside help. In Missouri, the driver assistance number is *55. In the event of an emergency, dial 911.
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“The biggest thing we tell folks is just stay in your vehicle, don’t get out of it, call for help, and stay in there,” Black stated. “Because I know we’ve had a couple of instances of folks trying to get out of their vehicles, and that’s very, very dangerous.”
KDOT recommends keeping the following things in your car if you must travel.
- Water and snacks
- Weather radio that runs on batteries
- Batteries and flashlights
- An extra cell phone battery pack
- A first aid kit
- Blankets, socks, and shoes
- Ice scraper and shovel
- Tools and jumper cables