Road Conditions Worsen Due To Snow, Ice
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The worst snow storm of the season arrived Wednesday morning and it did not take long for the roads to become treacherous.
Many people began heading to local stores to buy last-minute supplies such as salt and shovels to combat the storm.
Shortly after 8 a.m. the ice quickly turned to snow and roads such as Route 88 in Bethel Park turned to ice rinks.
"It's drivable, but not optimal," Bryan Randell said.
"We've gone through hundreds of bags of salt already today and tonnage for the bulk salt and more on the way. From the professionals, the landscapers out getting bulk salt to the homeowners just come and go getting two or three bags at a time. We're loading the trucks to go back out and deliver to some of the hotels," Andy Amrhein from Evey True Value said.
While motorists tried to make their way waiting for plow trucks, shops that specialize in all things plow related were trying to keep up with business.
"Doing a lot of repair on salt spreaders. We actually have a couple installs going on in the shop now here today. We had phone calls starting around 5:30 this morning and we were down here getting things going for guys and we'll be here as long as we need to be," Brian Smith from Steel City Mower & Plow said.
Areas north of the city are expected to see the highest snowfall amounts.
As of noon, nearly two inches had already fallen in the Wexford area.
Trucks have been steadily entering and exiting the Wexford PennDOT salt shelter. State troopers said PennDOT is doing a great job treating the roads, but the snow is falling too fast in order to get ahead of it.
"Terrible, it's snowing like crazy. Everyone's slipping. The salt doesn't seem to be doing anything," one man said.
"We were just coming over the bridge, lost control of the car, rammed into the side of a guardrail. They had to tow our car out of here," another man said.
State Police said if you don't need to go out today, it's best to stay home.
According to the Port Authority, bus service is running 30-plus minutes behind schedule in Allegheny County because of the weather. However, Light Rail service does not have any significant delays at this time.
As of 10:30 a.m. the Pennsylvania Turnpike's speed limit was reduced to 45 mph from the Ohio Line to the Blue Mountain/Kittatinny tunnels.
Trucks pulling double-trailers and empty trailers are currently banned from traveling in both directions from New Stanton to Breezewood. The ban also includes any vehicle pulling campers, utility and horse trailers.
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