Sleet and snow impacted driving in Desha County and Arkansas starting Sunday, January 14 and continued on into the week.
The Desha County Sheriff Department reported Monday that road conditions are still bad with the Arkansas Department of Transportation running plows on Hwy 65 and 165 to make them passable. The secondary highways are still covered with slick sleet and snow build up. Desha County Sheriff Mitch Grant said it was difficult for vehicles to pass on two lane highways.
Grant reported that he spoke with Desha County Judge Richard Tindall this evening to have county road crews to start grading county roads and highways. They plan on starting the road graders on Tuesday morning to help make county highways and roads safer for travel.
“They are very slick right now and traffic is packing that slush down to a solid sheet of ice and it is very slick. It is going to be worse Tuesday morning as far as the highways are concerned,” Grant said. “Secondary highways are the biggest safety concern. They are slick. Especially when you are meeting big truck traffic. Passing each other is very difficult. People sliding off of the road way that is not driving slow enough is cause for concern and small passenger cars that are getting bogged down in the thick snow or just getting stuck on the side of the road and not being able to move. The secondary highways are our biggest concerns. The major highways 65 and 165, the highway department is continuously working on and sanding the bridges. Highway 1, 4, 277, and 138 those are our biggest concerns right now.”
If you get to drive over the next couple of days to work try to do it in a four wheel drive vehicle. Grant advised drivers to exercise caution by leaving extra early, drive slow and cautiously and if anyone gets in a bind to call 911 for assistance.
With the rising temperatures over the next few days it will help to melt ice and snow on roads, but also cause dangerous driving conditions when freezing temperatures return at night.
As of Monday, there have not been any personal property damage and not injuries reported from this winter storm. Any vehicles who have run off the road received not damage and just got stuck in the thick snow.
Grant said one big issue would be to keep the power on, but from what he has seen any large accumulation of ice and snow on limbs could cause the limb to break causing a power outage.
“If we can get through these cold temperatures and everyone drives as safely as possible on this ice until it gets melted we will be in the clear,” Grant said.
The Sheriff Department and even the Dumas Volunteer Fire Department reported on road conditions throughout the day on Monday, January 15. The Sheriff Department provided an initial morning report of the snow plows at work; highway conditions for secondary highways and roads; safety advice; and to call if anyone needed assistance. The Sheriff Department later reported around 10 am worsening road condition with a falling sleet/rain mixture with several cars and 18 wheelers sliding off the roadways.
As of 5 pm Monday, Highway 4 was blocked between Hwy 1 and the Clearwater Paper Mill. 4X4 vehicles could easily drive in the conditions with three 18 wheelers getting stuck and blocking the road. The roads were cleared after a tow truck arrived on scene.
Shelbi Walters, Deputy Coordinator of the Office of Emergency Management, advised everyone to be mindful of your heat sources and your blankets, to double check all power sources, and to set your faucets to drip to prevent your faucets from freezing.
Schools closed for an additional day for Tuesday, January 16 and several businesses closed for January 15 and 16 due to inclement weather. The Dumas Police Department opened the Dumas Community Center and Municipal Building lobby as warming stations for anyone needing a warm place during this cold weather starting January 14. The Desha County Courthouses in Arkansas City will be closed tomorrow due to the road conditions. The Sheriff’s Office will be open.
Grant also said the new 911 system is currently working smoothly. He is proud of their team and dispatchers are learning how to run the system as efficiently as possible. They are currently waiting on bid from the contractors on the building. They hope to start the renovations sometime in the future. The team is doing well dispatching for McGehee and Dumas in Desha County.
Update from the Desha County Sheriff Department January 16, 2024
Morning Road Report:
U.S. Highways 65 and 165 are clear for the most part. There are a few areas of patchy ice on them, so be vigilant on those roads. Hwy 278 was plowed last night, and looks to be in much better shape on our side, Drew County side is still rough. Areas of ice remains, but it is passable. Hwy 1 from McGehee to Hwy 4 has not been plowed, but has two lanes of ruts that you can drive slowly in, but it is SLICK. North of Hwy 4, Hwy 1 only has one lane of ruts, and it’s very SLICK and still dangerous to drive on. Hwy 1 at Blythe Road, through Watson, Pea Ridge, to Backgate has been plowed by a local Farmer. The thick ice is gone. A thin layer of ice remains, but with today’s sunlight, much of that will melt down to the pavement. Two way traffic can make passage on that section now, but it remains SLICK. Hwy 4 is mostly clear from McGehee to Arkansas City, to Clearwater, and to Hwy 1. There are patches of ice in areas, but passage can be made. Hwy 277 and Hwy 138 remain covered, and are dangerous. Hopefully plows will be working those highways today. The County Roads and City streets remain completely covered. Hwy 54 has not been plowed. There are ruts that can be driven in, but remains SLICK. However, if you want to go to Taylor’s for a good steak this weekend, you should be able to make it is you drive slow and safe. Hwy 212 has not been plowed, and is SLICK. When I traveled Hwy 159 to Halley yesterday, it had not been plowed, and was SLICK. I hope this helps. Drive safe and be vigilant.
- Sheriff Mitch Grant
