Roads slick as snow falls Saturday evening
Rollover accidents and vehicles driving off the roadway due to slick conditions caused several slowdowns and lane restrictions Saturday evening.
“We’re really busy – lots of accidents everywhere,” said a Washington County 911 supervisor.
By 8 p.m., dispatchers reported that road conditions had mostly returned to normal with no closures or problem spots.
Several roads were restricted due to slippery road conditions. A Washington County 911 supervisor said most roads with accidents were down to one lane, with one closure.
Crashes on Interstate 70 westbound at mile marker 7 and 13 reduced travel to one lane, with a two-vehicle accident at mile marker 25 causing delays, according to Washington County 911. Both lane closures have since been canceled.
An accident in the 3200 block of West Chestnut Street in Canton Township also restricted the road.
Dally Road, just north of California and Coal Center, was closed from state Route 88 to Mon-Fayette Expressway due to an accident.
Greene County is under a winter weather advisory until 4 a.m. Sunday, with two to four inches of snow expected.
For Washington County, new snow accumulation of one to two inches is possible.
The National Weather Service’s Pittsburgh office says to anticipate slippery road conditions and prepare for reduced visibility.
For more information on travel conditions, visit PennDOT’s online road condition site at 511PA.com.
Although PennDOT recommends not traveling during winter storms, motorists can check road conditions on more than 2,900 miles of state roads by calling 5-1-1 or visiting their website. 511PA provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, average traffic speeds on interstates and access to more than 670 traffic cameras. The 511 site also provides easy-to-use, color-coded winter road conditions for all interstates and other routes covered in the 511 reporting network. Regional Twitter alerts are also available on the 511PA website. The southwest region’s Twitter account is available at twitter.com/511PAPittsburgh.
Although PennDOT has crews treating roadways around the clock, the department’s primary goal is to keep roads passable, not completely free of ice and snow. PennDOT will continue to treat roadways throughout the storm until precipitation stops and roads are clear.
The department also asks motorists to allow plenty of space when driving near plow trucks. Also, for their own safety and the safety of plow operators, motorists should never attempt to pass a truck while it is plowing or spreading winter materials.