Wintry Mix: State, City Officials Warn of Dangerous Winter Road Conditions

By Reece Nations, Managing Editor

Highway sign located near the Marsha Sharp Freeway frosted over. Photo by Reece Nations.

Road conditions in Lubbock remain troublesome in icy and snowy weather conditions, generating a greater risk of traffic collisions whenever temperatures drop.

Consequently, Lubbock first responders are urging citizens to take proactive measures in order to prevent accidents in cold weather. These measures are not only for the protection of residents and commuters but also for first responders themselves.

In January 2020, two Lubbock first responders — Lubbock Police Department officer Nicholas Reyna, 27, and firefighter Lt. Eric Hill, 39 — were killed while working at the scene of an early morning traffic accident in poor road conditions, according to the Lubbock Police Department. A third first responder, firefighter Matt Dawson, 30, was critically injured at the scene but would survive the incident.

Mark Hill — Eric’s father — is founder of “5-5-5 Safety,” an organization dedicated to preventing further tragedy through preventative initiatives, Tyler Henderson, firefighter and paramedic with Lubbock Fire Rescue, said. Before their daily commute, residents should leave five minutes earlier, slow down by at least five miles an hour under the speed limit, and reach out to at least five loved ones day.

“So ‘5-5-5’ has historically been a message indicating the loss of a fireman (during a memorial),” Henderson said. “And what Mr. Hill has done is he’s taken what would normally be a more somber message and he’s created a more positive message to help remind people to be safer on our roadways.”

Traffic at University Avenue and 4th Street awaiting a green light. Photo by Reece Nations.

This mnemonic is designed to be a reminder to keep safety at the forefront of one’s mind when traveling in adverse conditions, he said. Although these conditions worsen in severity in the winter months, it is important for the community to focus at all times on slowing down and being mindful of other drivers.

By slowing down and moving over, drivers can account for unexpected situations better, Henderson said. Drivers should concentrate on giving themselves extra space and time to break when roads are slippery.

“When we do have the standing water or patches of ice, a lot of people’s first instinct is to hit the brake,” he said. “And that’s the worst thing you can do — activate your brakes — because when you do, whatever traction you did have you no longer will have and you will slide more.”

Generally speaking, there is no speed one can travel at that guarantees total safety, Jake McCain, LFR paramedic, equipment operator and member of Lubbock Professional Firefighters Association media team, said. If a driver feels as though their car is beginning to skid, they should simply let off the gas pedal and keep the wheels straight until they regain traction.

Major problem areas around Lubbock include the Marsha Sharp Freeway — particularly around the intersection of University Avenue and Fourth Street — segments of Interstate 27 and overpasses like the ones encompassing Loop 289, McCain said.

When wintry weather conditions rolled in during the early morning hours Oct. 27, the Lubbock Police Department preemptively closed the Marsha Sharp Freeway to 19th Street flyover in both directions, the South Loop 289 to I-27 flyover, the Marsha Sharp Freeway’s eastbound main lanes at West Loop 289, and the westbound flyover from the Marsha Sharp Freeway to West Loop 289 among several others, according to the Lubbock Police Department.

“Even if the rest of the roadway may be clear and it’s just a cold day with a little bit of moisture and there’s no ice, there may be ice buildup on the overpasses because the cold air comes underneath,” he said. “It doesn’t have the insulation of the Earth to kind of keep that from freezing like the rest of the roadway.”

Icicles dangle from roadway signage. Photo by Reece Nations.

In addition, overpasses present unique hazards as their shade can keep patches of ice from melting even when temperatures remain well above freezing, McCain said. The first responders hope to reduce the risk of traffic accidents by underscoring safe driving habits among Lubbock residents.

Diana Ascencio, spokesperson for the Texas Department of Transportation, said drivers should focus on driving comfortably — not slowly — when traveling in poor weather conditions. Road closures may add minutes to one’s commute, but the detour is necessary to mitigate risk.

“As an agency, we monitor what the National Weather Service is reporting and anticipate road conditions based on that,” Ascencio said. “All travel recommendations generally boil down to using common sense and being extremely cautious, or just staying home.”

TxDOT road maintenance crew work year-round to treat and repair roadways, she said. The same workers who fill in potholes and lay asphalt also plow snow from the streets and operate salt trucks in winter weather.

The combination of extreme heat in the summer and extreme cold in the winter wreaks havoc on road quality, she said. TxDOT road maintenance crews perpetuate this cycle by routinely repaving streets, roads, highways and overpasses over time.

Lubbock’s TxDOT district encompasses 12,314 miles of roadway, Ascencio said. This district — in addition to Lubbock County — includes Bailey, Castro, Cochran, Crosby, Dawson, Floyd, Gaines, Garza, Hale, Hockley, Lamb, Lynn, Parmer, Swisher, Terry and Yoakum counties.

Snow dusted traffic traveling eastward on 4th Street. Photo by Reece Nations.

This district, 17 counties wide, has over 300 pieces of specialized equipment available during winter weather operations, she said. In Lubbock County, officials have access to 33 pieces of heavy machinery they can employ in extreme situations.

Nineteen TxDOT fleet vehicles in Lubbock’s district that dispense granular rock salt onto paved surfaces can also be outfitted to double as snow plows, Ascencio said. If a certain region is hit harder by a weather event than another, TxDOT officials can shift these resources around the district accordingly.

“If you have to get out during inclement weather, it’s best to slow down and give yourself that extra time just in case you do have to drive on surface streets or city streets instead of taking what would traditionally be the quickest route to your destination,” Ascencio said.

For information on road conditions and how to drive on snow and ice, visit TxDOT.

To learn about the 5-5-5 initiative, visit the 555safety.com