Weather causes traffic delays, road closures
Semi-trucks, passenger vehicles stranded along I-90 at Haugan
Weekend weather conditions caused traffic accidents, delays and closures on Interstate 90 in Montana and Idaho.
According to Capt. Darrell Braaten of the Shoshone County Sheriff's Department, there were 15 accidents/slideoffs on I-90 due to road conditions on what Braaten called a pretty typical weekend.
"There are times that the roads were in pretty tough shape, but the Idaho Transportation Department did an excellent job and kept them pretty clear," said Braaten.
Idaho State Police Lt. Chris Schenck said that within 48 hours his department responded to 24 crashes resulting in minor to moderate injuries and over 110 slideoffs in the Coeur d'Alene area.
"A couple jackknifed semi-trucks caused delays on the Fourth of July Pass and the on-ramps at the state line were plugged up due to drivers not yielding to conditions," said Schenck.
Schenck explained that though there were no reports of any stranded motorists, Idaho State Police advises all drivers to carry extra provisions, have a full tank of gas and the best equipment available before traveling.
Conditions and two jackknifed semi-trucks during the weekend caused the shut down of I-90 at Lookout Pass from Idaho to Montana. The shut down stranded over 500 semi-trucks and 700 motorists from Haugan to DeBorgia, according to 10,000 Silver Dollar daytime bartender Linda Ferderer.
There was enough snow that required vehicles to chain up, said Montana Highway Patrol Capt. Phillip Smart, but the pass closed after trucks without chains jackknifed. The highway shut-down time lengthened due to a small avalanche at milepost 1 in Montana, he said.
The delays however, brought in good business for the 10,000 Silver Dollar bar and hotel, said night bartender Brittney Henderson.
"The hotel was booked and we were referring people back to either Superior or Missoula, Mont., Sunday night," said Henderson, adding that despite the delays the crowd was pretty calm and just went with the flow of being stranded.
At Lookout Pass Ski and Recreation Area, Administrative Coordinator Jim Shriver said that the park received 29 inches of new snow over 48 hours, which caused long hours for park groomers.
"The groomers had a long day," said Shriver explaining that the machines started at 6 p.m. the previous night and worked to 10:30 a.m. the following morning to clear the parking lot and groom the mountain.
"They did a great job and it was for the benefit of the customers and making sure the conditions were safe to their liking."
Shriver also said that despite the road closures and delays skiers and snowboarders were pretty determined to experience the powder. The new snow caused some glitches, Shriver explained.
"We had eight to 12 inches of snow pile up between and on top of cars that made people without four-wheel drive have problems getting out of the parking lot," Shriver said. When someone did get stuck other customers helped to get them moving, which he said was nice to see.
The snow also caused problems for the ski park's media appreciation day in which only 60 to 65 percent of the participants made their way to the park. A band from Spokane that was to perform for the event couldn't reach the park due to the delays.