Continued poor weather worsens roads

WASHINGTON — January continued to vex Southeast Iowans this week, trading subzero temperatures and heavy snow for frozen windshields and slush-covered roads. County officials said road crews had passed over most hard surfaces by 8:30 a.m. Monday and were back up and running by 5 a.m. Tuesday, after putting chains on tires to keep their vehicles from getting stuck.

Washington County Engineer Jacob Thorius encouraged the public to be patient as road treatments were applied.

“People just need to slow down,” he said. “If you can’t go fast, I can’t go fast with my equipment. And if my equipment ends up in a ditch, then you definitely can’t go anywhere. It’s a slow process, ice is not fun. I’d rather have the snow we had two weeks ago than the ice at this point.”

Thorius said salt applications could de-ice hard surfaces, but would make gravel roads more of a mess if applied.

Similar conditions were observed across the state.

“Heavy fog and some freezing rain are causing some travel troubles on Iowa roads this morning,” the Iowa DOT said on Facebook. “If you are traveling, allow extra time to get where you're going, buckle up and slow down. Our crews are out, but there will be slick spots. Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and ramps.”

Washington and Mt. Pleasant, schools had two hour late starts Monday and Tuesday. Fairfield did the same on Jan. 22, and canceled class on Jan. 23, while New London’s district closed buildings altogether on both days, according to Facebook posts from staff.

Southeast Iowa call for service records published both mornings by police were riddled with dozens accident reports, starting in the early morning hours of Jan. 22, when a semi went into a ditch along Highway 218 close to Crawfordsville.

“Slippery travel conditions are expected for the Tuesday morning commute,” the National Weather Service in the Quad Cities said Monday night on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Make sure to give yourself plenty of time for your commute, and extra following distance between you and the vehicle in front of you!”

Washington County Emergency Management Coordinator Marissa Reisen said Southeast Iowans should expect travel conditions to remain suboptimal for a while.

“This whole week could be like that,” she said on Monday. “It’ll melt and freeze, and melt and freeze.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com