Roads open, but still snowpacked
Published 3:26 pm Saturday, February 22, 2014
![A Mower County Sheriff’s Department SUV sits with a car facing north on the southbound lane of 218 just before the I-90 exit Friday afternoon. -- Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com](https://www.austindailyherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2014/02/0223.CarinDitch11.jpg)
A Mower County Sheriff’s Department SUV sits with a car facing north on the southbound lane of 218 just before the I-90 exit Friday afternoon. — Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Roads across southeastern Minnesota — including Interstate 35 between Owatonna and Albert Lea — were finally all open Saturday, according to www.511mn.org, but conditions were still listed as difficult as crews continued digging out after Thursday’s snowstorm.
Roads in Austin and Mower County were still snowpacked Saturday, and could be for at least a few more days, as high temperatures should only reach the teens or single digits this week.
From Thursday through 3:30 p.m. Friday, the state patrol reported 284 vehicles off the road, 49 crashes with damage, nine rollovers and two crashes with injuries in the Rochester District, which includes Mower, Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha and Winona counties.
State troopers have responded to nearly 1,000 crashes across the state, plus another 2,300 vehicles that spun out or ran off the road.
The State Patrol responded to more than 4,400 calls for service, including about 1,100 stalls and 74 jackknifed semi trucks.
On Friday, road conditions prompted all Minnesota State Patrol command staff to suspend daily duties to provide assistance on state highways. The state patrol and the Minnesota Department of Transportation both reported conditions could remain poor for several days.
“We’re receiving reports from veteran troopers in several areas of the state of conditions that are as bad as they’ve seen in 25 years,” said State Patrol Lt. Col. Matt Langer in a news release. “We need motorists to avoid traveling unless it’s absolutely necessary. It is simply too dangerous right now, and MnDOT needs room to clear the roads of snow and ice.”
Motorists should consult road conditions on www.511mn.org before beginning a trip.
—The Associated Press contributed to this report.