Update regarding snowplows pulled from roadways in parts of eastern Iowa
Iowa Department of Transportation
AMES, Iowa – Feb. 1, 2011: 10:35 p.m. update – Due to the blizzard, visibility has diminished to the point it is no longer safe for Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) snowplows to be on the roads in specific service areas of the state. Crews based out of the Iowa DOT maintenance garages listed below have been recalled from the roadways. Operators will resume clearing roads when conditions improve.
- Coralville
- Davenport
- Donnellson
- Fairfield
- Mount Pleasant
- Tipton
- Washington
- Williamsburg
When the Iowa DOT is no longer maintaining certain roads during a winter storm, it is unsafe for motorists to attempt to use them. Therefore, the affected roads are officially declared closed/impassable. Motorists who ignore these closure warnings risk becoming stranded, with aid unable to reach them until the storm subsides.
To see which roads are no longer being serviced because a maintenance garage has recalled its plows, visit: http://www.iowadot.gov/maintenance/garages.html.
Special exception: Although Interstates 74, 80 and 380, and U.S. 218 are not presently being maintained in eastern Iowa, these divided, four-lane roads are not expected to become impassable while service is temporarily suspended. Therefore, they are not considered closed. However, travel is strongly discouraged on these routes due to the hazardous weather conditions.
