Icy Roads Prove To Be Trouble For North Alabama Residents At Christmas
By: Stephen Crews
Updated: December 27, 2010
"The biggest problems we've had on the roadways today are icy bridges and overpasses," he said.
But for Alabamians, who are unfamiliar with driving in icy conditions that's an understatement.
Smith says as of about 3:00 p.m. Sunday, officers had already responded to more than 40 vehicle accident calls.
Horace Walker, with Jefferson County EMA, says whether you have a lot of experience driving on ice, or hardly any, ice equals accidents.
"Icy conditions...I don't care if you have a lot of folks on the road, you're going to have a lot of accidents," he said.
But traveling by road wasn't the only form of transportation that took a hit Sunday. Also...traveling by air.
"We did have a handful of flights that were delayed today," Toni Herrera-Bast said.
Herrera-Bast, with the Birmingham airport, says when it comes to cancellations of flights it's a domino effect.
"When one flight arriving at Birmingham may be delayed, it then impacts the next flight that goes out," she said. "Both arrivals and departures."
As for any possible delays on the roads for Sunday overnight, Walker says if there are issues, about 12 sand trucks will be ready to go.
"They're standing by and ready," he said. "I'm sure the DOT has their trucks ready...they're standing by, but that's it at this particular phase...standing by."
