MEMPHIS, Tenn– Memphis used a new method to treat icy roads for the second time this year.
MPD expects roads to refreeze Wednesday night.
Instead of troubled spots, the city focused on clearing one lane in major routes.
Drivers and first responders told WREG they have noticed a difference in the winter storm this week compared to January’s snowfall.
In January, the city’s Public Works Director Scott Morgan said he felt good about their plan, and that they were preparing for the snow last summer and fall.
On Wednesday, Morgan says salt is being applied like last time, but the biggest difference is the plows.
“One, you have the layer of ice that won’t come up with plows,” said Morgan.
Morgan says crews have worked all day trying to treat the thin layer of ice which makes roads look deceiving.
WREG was present when police responded to one crash on Poplar near Tillman just before sunrise. Two cars had crashed, and the drivers left the scene when officers arrived.
“We have nine active crash scenes which is a good thing. A low number,” said Memphis Police Department’s Assistant Chief Don Crowe.
He gives credit to those who stayed off the road and the new plan.
MPD cautions drivers to continue to limit travel especially when the sun goes down due to a possible refreeze.
“After our snow even in January I reached out to Public Works and congratulated them on how efficient they were clearing the street, and I think we are seeing that again today,” said Crowe.
Police say unlike the storm in January this one has come with more ice, colder temperatures, and ice is always harder to drive on.
“What we are seeing now is the ice is harder to melt, traffic and road conditions remain hazardous, and we expect tonight anything left to refreeze and creating an additional hazard,” said Crowe.
MPD says the inclement weather policy is still in place. If you get into a crash, take pictures, exchange information, and file a report within ten days.
One driver said they have seen improvement and effort as a resident, and another driver says they wish to see more efforts be put into secondary and neighborhood streets.
The city says there are just too many lane miles where they can’t get to every single street which is why they focus on major routes.
They have been treating the roads throughout the day, but salt does not work when it hits 15 degrees and below. The city says it will be closely monitoring what happens Wednesday night.