Roads slippery, snow-covered; schools, Key Springs closed

 

Streets in Oak Ridge, including main roads, were snow-covered and slippery Tuesday evening, and schools announced they would be closed again on Wednesday. Key Springs Road—a steep, curvy road that goes down Black Oak Ridge from north Oak Ridge to Marlow—was closed.

The Oak Ridge Police Department advised residents to stay home if they don’t have to be on the roads tonight.

“All roads are snow-covered,” the ORPD said Tuesday evening. “(Oak Ridge) Public Works crews are working to clear and treat roads.”

Even heavily traveled main roads such as Illinois Avenue and Oak Ridge Turnpike were snow-covered and slippery Tuesday evening. Side streets were as well.

The snow, which had started at about 1 p.m. Tuesday, continued past 7 p.m. The forecast had called for a few inches.

Oak Ridge Schools announced they were closed again on Wednesday. So were Roane State Community College campuses, and Anderson County Schools.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation said there were widespread reports of patches of snow and ice on East Tennessee roadways.

“Stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary tonight,” TDOT spokesperson Mark Nagi said. “Refreezing conditions are likely.”

The Y-12 National Security Complex, which asked all non-essential personnel to leave the site by 5 p.m. Tuesday, said Y-12 and the Uranium Processing Facility offices will not open until 10 a.m. Wednesday.

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department reported Tuesday afternoon that roads and highways were snow-covered, and roads were slick and hazardous with ice.

Also Tuesday afternoon, the Oak Ridge Police Department said in a weather-related post on Twitter that it was responding to several crashes, and road conditions were deteriorating quickly.

The City of Oak Ridge said Waste Connections closed the Convenience Center on Warehouse Road at 4 p.m. Tuesday due to the weather, and household trash and recycling pickup may also be delayed on Wednesday depending upon the weather.

Events that had been scheduled for Tuesday evening—including basketball games, an Anderson County Commission meeting, and a joint Oak Ridge Board of Education and City Council work session—were postponed or rescheduled.

The American Museum of Science and Energy announced it was closing for the rest of the day Tuesday afternoon, and the museum will assess the parking lot for safety before making a decision about when or whether to open Wednesday.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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