Friday March 29th, 2024 12:43AM

Hall roads open, but many 'dangerous, treacherous'; GDOT says hazards increase overnight

By Ken Stanford Contributing Editor
GAINESVILLE - "Extremely dangerous driving conditions exist throughout most of north and central Georgia."

That's the way the 9:00 advisory from Hall County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) began and GDOT officials are reminding motorists that as night falls, hazards increase in this kind of weather.

"We are still encouraging folks to stay off all roads," spokesman Scott Cagle said. "Many reports coming in about roads affected throughout the entire county but the concentration is in the north end. (Fire and EMS crews have responded to) several wrecks due to the road conditions with some of those wrecks involving overturned vehicles but as of now no reports of any serious injuries."

Cagle added that between 1:00 and 5:30, Hall County agencies responded to approximately 410 calls with 80 of those being motor vehicle accidents.

"As of right now it seems we are fairing better than some counties/agencies around us - and what is helping with that are citizens staying in place."

Although we consider many roads dangerous and/or treacherous, no roads are "closed" at this time.

STATE DOT: SUN SETS, HAZARDS INCREASE

Georgia Department of Transportation officials report that hazardous driving conditions are spreading throughout Northeast Georgia. GDOT crews are active throughout affected areas but conditions are likely to continue to deteriorate overnight.

Officials advise the public to refrain from all but "absolutely necessary" travel until midday Wednesday at the earliest.

The following locations are hazardous, icing has been reported and crews were working in these areas at 6:00:

· Barrow - SR 211, SR 81, SR 82 and SR 316
· Dawson - SR 183, SR 136 and SR 53
· Forsyth - SR 20 Bridge over the Chattahoochee River and SR 9 southbound
· Gwinnett - SR 20 bridge over the Chattahoochee River, SR 20, SR 316 at Collins Hill Road, SR 140 and SR 141 Northbound at Peachtree Corners East
· Hall - I-985 and SR 365 icing on bridges and higher elevations
· Habersham - SR 15/US 441, SR 105, SR 17
· Lumpkin - SR 9 and SR 60
· White - SR 11, SR 115, SR 75, SR 356
· Rabun - SR 2/US 76, SR 15/US 441
· Towns - SR 2/US 76
· Union - SR 2/SR 515/US 76 and SR 180

The only roads officially closed at this time (9:00) are the customary winter weather closings of State Route 180 Spur in Towns County and a portion of State Route 348 in White County.

Currently classified as temporarily unpassable are Interstate Highway 75 north and southbound in Bartow County at State Route 20, Interstate Highway 575 northbound in Cherokee County at Cumming Highway, State Route 16 at the Spalding/Coweta counties line; State Route 141 north and southbound in Gwinnett County, State Route 9 north and southbound in Forsyth County, State Route 12 eastbound in Haralson County, State Route 61 in Carroll County, State Route 36 near Nelson Drive in Upson County, State Route 156 east and west bound in Gordon County, portions of State Routes 14, 38 and 92 in Fulton County and Langford Parkway/State Route 166 in south Atlanta. Crews are working all locations.

If they simply must be on the road tonight, motorists should exercise extreme caution at all times and be especially mindful if travelling on any of the following roads, all of which had icing conditions reported at some point during the past several hours. Each has been treated but ice, especially black ice, may easily re-develop after dark
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