Weather Closes Businesses, Roads
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowBusinesses are following the requests of many public officials and telling workers to stay home today. At least one major employer in Indianapolis is experiencing its first weather-related closing in two decades. Roads in many sections of the state, including I-65 between Lafayette and Gary and parts of I-90 in northwest Indiana, are closed. The state remains in an Arctic grip with wind chills exceeding -30 degrees. OneAmerica Financial Partners Inc. announced its Indianapolis world headquarters will be closed today.
You can view an interactive map of travel advisories throughout the state from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security by clicking here.
January 6, 2014
News Release
NORTHWEST INDIANA – As of 5 a.m. Central Time/6 a.m. Eastern time conditions remain extremely hazardous on all interstates, U.S. highways, and state routes in the INDOT Northwest District. In addition, all counties in our District have declared red travel warnings, advising roads are closed to all but emergency personnel. Heavy snow, blowing and drifting snow, and sub zero temperatures should be expected on all roadways. This is a dangerous situation and all are advised to stay home until roadways can be safely cleared.
EMERGENCY CLOSURES:
-I-94, both eastbound and westbound, between the Illinois state line and the U.S. 421 exit (Michigan City)
-I-65, both northbound and southbound, between U.S. 12/20 (Gary) and mile marker 172 (Lafayette)
-State Road 16, between Monon and Royal Center
-State Road 18, between State Road 29 and U.S. 31
-State Road 218, between State Road 25 and State Road 29
-State Rood 43, south of Chalmers
Many other roads are impassable and closed to all traffic, but a complete list is not available due to the massive scale of this severe winter storm and INDOT crews working to clear the way in extreme conditions.
How severe are conditions on the roads? Below are just some of the challenges INDOT crews are facing:
-Roads drifting shut soon after they are cleared by plows, due to blowing and drifting snow
-INDOT plows getting stuck on impassable roads
-Abandoned vehicles that have been stuck in snow litter many roadways, making it nearly impossible to clear the way
-Many roads require heavy duty front-end loaders to clear snow, slowing the plowing process
AGAIN – This is a dangerous situation and all are advised to stay home until roadways can be safely cleared.
Drivers in Northwest Indiana can monitor road closures, road conditions, and traffic alerts at any time via the District’s social media channels: www.Facebook.com/INDOTNorthwest or Twitter @INDOTNorthwest. Or visit http://www.trafficwise.in.gov for INDOT’s TrafficWise Traveler Information Service.
Sources: The Indiana Department of Transportation, OneAmerica Financial Partners Inc.