Conditions on metro Atlanta’s roads improved dramatically Thursday afternoon as temperatures climbed into the 40s and sunshine helped melt much of the ice and snow. Several municipalities planned to treat roadways again Thursday night to prevent slush and water from refreezing. Officials said motorists should use caution during the morning hours, and several school districts canceled classes in an abundance of caution. Here’s a look at what to expect:
City of Atlanta:
Thursday: More than 140 priority roads, such as Peachtree Street and Boulevard, and 100 priority bridges had been treated for snow and ice as of Thursday afternoon, with 25 bridges and more than 50 routes receiving a second treatment. Nearly 90 of those roadways and bridges were plowed by mid-day Thursday.
Overnight: Atlanta road crews will monitor streets overnight and will treat any problem areas that develop beginning at 6 a.m. Officials do not expect black ice during the day due to rising temperatures.
Etc. The City of Atlanta has deployed more than 120 pieces of equipment, including spreaders and plows, to treat roads throughout the storm. Road crews have used nearly 10,000 tons of material to treat more than 300 miles of roadways. As of Thursday evening, road crews and public safety employees continued working 12-hour rotational shifts. The Atlanta city government is opening at 10 a.m. Friday, but the municipal court will remain closed. Atlanta schools remain closed Friday.
Katie Leslie
Cherokee
Thursday afternoon: All major county roads were passable. County officials have documented 25 auto accidents since the winter storm began Tuesday. None involved serious injuries.
Overnight: Cherokee officials planned to be on the lookout for roads refreezing and will treat roads with salt and gravel as needed Friday.
Etc. The county maintains about 1,200 miles of roads. Cherokee County Schools are closed Friday.
Jeremy Redmon
Clayton
Thursday afternoon: All county roads were clear. No blockages on major roads.
Overnight: Roads will be treated on a case-by-case basis. Crews will continue to collect downed trees and other debris from public roads.
Etc.: Clayton County schools are closed Friday for Spring Break. Clayton County government offices and the county courthouse will be open regular hours Friday.
Tammy Joyner
Cobb
Thursday afternoon: All major county roads and most others were wet but passable. County officials had salted and spread sand and gravel on all major county-maintained roadways such as the East-West Connector and Roswell Road.
Overnight: Cobb planned to treat all major roads overnight because of the probability of the slush refreezing. They advise residents to use caution in the morning, especially crossing any bridges and overpasses that may refreeze overnight.
Etc. The county maintains more than 2,400 miles of roads. During ice storms, all bridges and most multi-lane thoroughfares are classified as top priorities for de-icing and sanding. Priority roads also include those leading to hospitals, fire stations and police precincts. Cobb County schools are closed Friday. Cobb government will be open for normal business hours Friday.
Dan Klepal
DeKalb
Thursday afternoon: All major roadways were passable, with some in good condition while others in more shaded areas were in fair condition. The county had to clean up several downed trees due to higher winds in the morning.
Overnight: Transportation crews planned to work overnight shoveling snow from roadways, removing trees and salting and sanding slick areas. Officials warn that slush could refreeze and create dangerous black ice. Motorists should wait until daylight Friday to travel, if possible, officials advise.
Etc. All City of Decatur offices will be open Friday. DeKalb County schools are closed, but 12-month employees have been asked to report. DeKalb County administrative offices will open Friday at 10 a.m.
Jaime Sarrio/Molly Bloom
Fulton
Thursday afternoon: All major county roads – including Camp Creek Parkway, Fulton Industrial Boulevard and Old National Highway – were slushy but passable.
Overnight: Fulton finished treating roads early Thursday and did not plan to keep treating them overnight. However, crews are picking up branches and debris from roads. The county encourages residents to stay off roadways until conditions improve and to stay indoors if possible to avoid ice and falling tree limbs.
Etc. The county maintains more than 600 miles of roads in unincorporated South Fulton. During ice storms, all bridges are classified as top priorities for de-icing and sanding. Priority roads include those leading to hospitals and fire station and major collector roads. Fulton County schools remain closed Friday. More than 30 people have taken advantage of emergency shelters Fulton operated at local fire stations and senior centers. But many people have left as roads have cleared, and only four people remained at the shelters Thursday afternoon. The county planned to close them after the last person left. Fulton government offices and courts will be open.
David Wickert
Gwinnett
Thursday afternoon: One Gwinnett County road — Ronald Reagan Parkway — remained closed. Most other major county roads were relatively clear of snow and slush Thursday afternoon, but many other roads in the county were still slushy. County officials ask that people stay off the roads if possible.
Overnight: County transportation planned to focus on making sure major county roads, major intersections and hospital, fire station and police facility entrances and exits were clear.
Etc.: A sinkhole appeared Thursday near the intersection of Peachtree Industrial Boulevard and Pleasant Hill Road in Duluth. County water department staff are investigating what caused the sinkhole. Gwinnett County Public Schools will be closed on Friday. All Gwinnett government administrative offices will open at 8 a.m. and courts will open at 10 a.m. Trials and hearings are cancelled, but some court offices may be open for routine business. Call to confirm. Valentine's Day weddings and vow renewals will be performed at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center located at 75 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville instead of the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse. Services will be performed between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Gwinnett County Tax Commissioner offices, including tag offices, will open at 10 a.m. The Buford, Centerville, Norcross, and Lawrenceville Senior Service Centers will be closed. Organizers say the Run the Reagan road race will take place on Saturday in Snellville as scheduled.
Molly Bloom
MARTA/COMMUTER BUSES
Friday: MARTA will reinstitute bus and paratransit service on 30 “lifeline routes” beginning at 7 a.m. until 11:30 p.m. Friday. For details about which bus routes will be in service, visit www.itsmarta.com. Rail service will begin at 4:35 a.m. Friday and run until about 2 a.m. on Saturday. Customers should expect wait times for trains ranging from 10 to 20 minutes, conditions permitting.
Xpress bus service will be limited on Friday, February 14. All morning trips departing before 7 a.m. will be cancelled. Trips departing at 7 a.m., or after, including all afternoon service, will run according to regular schedule. Additionally, all morning reverse commutes will be cancelled. The Xpress pass sales window and customer call center will open at 10 a.m. Go to http://xpressga.com/ for more information.
Andria Simmons
Georgia Department of Transportation (state routes and interstates)
Thursday: GDOT road maintenance crews plowed and retreated all the metro Atlanta interstates and primary state routes on Thursday afternoon, so that all were passable. As of Thursday midday, the interstates had received four treatments and were expected to be treated twice more.
Overnight: GDOT planned to treat problem areas and interstates as needed. Officials cautioned drivers to proceed slowly and carefully Friday morning, because temperatures were expected to dip below freezing. Patches of black ice could form anywhere that there was still standing water in the early part of the day. By midday Friday temperatures are expected to reach 50 degrees, allowing any remaining ice accumulation to melt.
Etc.: GDOT had about 60 road maintenance crews working to clear slush from about 6,000 miles of interstate and state routes on Thursday. Each crew includes a dump truck that can spread salt and gravel fitted with a snow plow, followed by a pickup truck to keep motorists at a safe distance. The crews have been working in 12-hour shifts since Tuesday.
Andria Simmons
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport
Thursday afternoon: Thousands of passengers queued up in long lines to get through security, as airlines resumed flights after massive flight cancellations this week. Security lines at the world’s busiest airport stretched from the main security checkpoint, through the airport atrium, around the corner and back to baggage claim areas, weaving around baggage carousels and into another round of switchbacks. Waits were up to an hour long or more. The Transportation Security Administration in the early afternoon had only its main security checkpoint open with nine lanes, while the North and South security checkpoints were closed due to limited staffing. The North checkpoint opened later in the afternoon. Airlines canceled roughly half of the more than 2,000 daily flights in and out of Atlanta.
Friday: The lines are expected to continue. Interim airport general manager Miguel Southwell advised travelers to get to the airport three to four hours early on Friday. Airlines are expecting to operate close to a regular schedule.
Kelly Yamanouchi
Complied by Jaime Sarrio
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