All interstates closed in Oklahoma City; H.E. Bailey and Turner turnpikes also closed

NewsOK ^ | Thursday, December 24, 2009 | Staff Writers

[Star Traveler]

All interstates closed in Oklahoma City [All Highways Closed in Oklahoma Now]

FROM STAFF REPORTS
Published: December 24, 2009

Blizzard-like conditions and wrecks prompted state authorities to close all interstate highways in Oklahoma City along with the H.E. Bailey and Turner turnpikes.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol closed Oklahoma City interstates about 2:30 p.m. Troopers had previously closed eastbound Interstate 40 at U.S. 81 in El Reno.

The H.E. Bailey Turnpike, which is the portion of Interstate 44 extending southwest from Newcastle to the Texas state line, is closed because of the weather, the patrol reported.

The Turner Turnpike, which is the portion of I-44 extending northeast from Oklahoma City to Tulsa, is also closed because of the weather, Oklahoma Turnpike Authority Jack Damrill said.

Military vehicles are being dispatched to H.E. Bailey Turnpike to pick up stranded motorists, Damrill said.

It's unknown how many motorists may be stranded on the turnpikes.

"We've got a couple troopers stranded," Damrill said.

Officials have not estimated when the roadways will reopen.

Troopers have reported numerous weather-related wrecks across the state because of today's storm.

[PhiKapMom]

Oklahoma doesn’t get snow like this and we don’t have the plows like they do in the north. After Tinker AFB gets their runways cleared, they will head out into the communities.

[dragnet2]

We’re getting hammered here in KC.

Fine, just don't get behind the wheel.

[FourPeas]

Yep, when I lived up north this amount of snow was just an annoyance. Down here, though, there are no snow plows, no rust (salt) trucks, and in the eastern part of the state our roads are a lot more hilly than they were even in the hilly dune areas of Michigan — think switchbacks. The roads aren't built for it, either. Where normally there’d be guard rails up north, there aren't any in Oklahoma. Then there's the fact that this started as ice, and the hazards caused by falling tree limbs & trees. All in all, it's a different thing entirely here.

[peggybac]

I don’t mind the snow but high winds make me nervous. If the electricity goes out, I’m screwed.

[dfwgator]

Exactly, I had no problem driving in snow up in Michigan, but here in Texas the ice makes it darn near impossible, especially with the monster overpasses we have here in DFW.

[Tolsti2]

It snowed here in the Dallas area, first time I can remember around Christmas.

[FourPeas]

Those Dallas overpasses are amazing. Those things can scare me even in the middle of summer!

[airborne]

Here in PA they’re calling for ice and freezing rain, starting at day break.

I hope they’re wrong. Who wants a “Clear Christmas”...?

[Vendome]

My mom is in North Tulsa, in a bit of a valley.

My sister only has 4”.

guess it will be around awhile. Temps aren’t going above mid 30’s for a week.

Merry Christmas!

[Vendome]

My mom is in North Tulsa, in a bit of a valley.

My sister only has 4”.

guess it will be around awhile. Temps aren’t going above mid 30’s for a week.

Merry Christmas!

[Star Traveler]

You were saying ...

It snowed here in the Dallas area, first time I can remember around Christmas.

But, they've had icy weather there before at Christmas and that can be worse than the snowy weather... :-)

[Star Traveler]

I know what you mean... hope it all hangs together for you... :-)

[Vendome]

Merry Christmas

[Star Traveler]

You were saying ...

Those Dallas overpasses are amazing. Those things can scare me even in the middle of summer!

Yeah... N Central Expressway and LBJ Freeway... LOL..., or a few other spots I can think of... you think you're taking off or landing in an aircraft sometimes... :-)

[Vendome]

LOL

Merry Christmas

[Star Traveler]

And a Merry Christmas to you, too... hope things go well... [I’m liking the snow here, quite a bit, so I don’t take this as a problem... :-) ...]

[LukeL]

Ice storms are very very rare in Wisconsin, I am happy for that. People don’t understand how heavy ice is and that even an inch of it can bring down power lines and tree branches.

[SierraWasp]

Do you know if much of the snow storm is sliding over to southwestern MO? My friend, a former Sacramento resident moved there recently. He'll be slippin and a sliden if'n he ain't careful.

We drove through eastern OK back in May. Though Bixbie and Tulsa. No recession in those fine communities!!!

[NoobRep]

This is as bad of a snowstorm as I’ve ever seen in Nebraska. Visibility is about 2 blocks, if that.

[Star Traveler]

You were asking ...

Do you know if much of the snow storm is sliding over to southwestern MO?

Oh yeah... they're getting it over there, too, but maybe not quite as bad, but bad enough... :-)

---

We drove through eastern OK back in May. Though Bixbie and Tulsa. No recession in those fine communities!!!

Well..., I'm doing okay, but I'm not sure about everyone. I mean, we've had a lot of layoffs and plant closings and the state supposedly has a huge shortfall in revenues (kinda like Arizona, I hear) so I'm not sure what's going to come of it.

But..., if you want to see a booming place and where they're not having any recession problems, just go to Dallas... hoo-boy!... :-)