Weather-related emergencies handled 'without a hitch'
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The new closure plan for the Interstate in Rock County was used for the first time Tuesday. A jack-knifed truck on I-43 east of Beloit Township closed part of that highway for a time, and the new barriers similar to these on the west-bound ramp of I-39/90 at Highway 11 east were used.
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Joy Swatkowski scrapes snow and ice from her van's windows outside the Janesville home where she works as a nanny.
JANESVILLE — In their first test this winter, agencies had no trouble closing Interstate 90/39 on Tuesday after a semitrailer truck crashed.
New equipment added after motorists were stranded overnight in February's blizzard helped, including barricades to close onramps and Interstate traffic cameras, officials said.
"Today went off without a hitch," Rock County Communications dispatcher Denise Wingerson said. "I think because of what happened last year, everybody is a lot more prepared."
Agencies met several times this year to discuss response plans for weather-related emergencies, said Kathy Sukus, communications center operations manager.
The meetings have improved planning and communication among agencies, Sukus said.
Six cameras have been installed along the Interstate in Rock County.
Barriers also have been placed at onramps from Madison to the Wisconsin-Illinois border in case the Interstate must be closed.
The handling of Tuesday's closure was an encouraging practice run for future emergencies, Sukus said.
During the snowstorm, the communications center was the hub of all weather-related calls.
Judy Wallander, communications supervisor, said it can get crazy during snowstorms, but an extra dispatcher was on staff in anticipation of a busy day.
Four extra sheriff's deputies also were on duty to assist with calls.
But dispatchers were never overwhelmed.
"It's been off and on," Wallander said. "Of course, when we had the jackknifed semi on the Interstate, everyone was moving pretty fast."
Wingerson was handling Interstate calls when the snow was flying, roads were slick and the semitrailer truck jackknifed at about 10 a.m. on the Interstate's eastbound lane near Beloit.
She communicated the order to close the Interstate's onramps and limit traffic.
She also radioed deputies to reroute motorists. Other dispatchers helped call tow trucks and other county officials.
"It gets kind of loud and kind of crazy in here, but people work well together," Wingerson said. "It's like little mini bursts of adrenaline."
Online video from the new Interstate cameras could be viewed at the communications center. Dispatch supervisors watched to monitor traffic and road conditions.
"It just gives us an idea of what's to be expected," Wallander said. "That's how you know what's going on."
Plenty of slide-offs, accidents and complaints of nasty roads were reported, officials said.
Changing road conditions were reported to local media outlets throughout the day to keep the public informed.
"I think people knew it was going to be bad, and that's the best thing," Wallander said. "That helps more than anything."
Dec 19, 2008 at 10:28 p.m.
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President of the Salt Institute? Are you serious?
Closing a road is typically your last choice - and done so that the lives of emergency responders and motorists can be saved. A plow and salt only work so well... they were salting the heck out of I-90, but when it ices over and traffic grinds to a hault - how is a plow supposed to clear the road?
Just another suite with an aggenda... take your salt and move to Texas.
Dec 10, 2008 at 6:05 p.m.
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Safe winter roads: worth fighting for
Ted Sullivan's story today about the happy news that that "Weather-related emergencies handled 'without a hitch'" was a good news/bad news story.
The local Wisconsin DOT dispatcher efficiently closed the major Chicago-Madison-Minneapolis/St. Paul Interstate highway when a semi jack-knifed. One crash, no lives lost. We are thankful for the life-saving response. The paper glowingly recorded Kathy Sukus of WI DOT crowing that "The handling of Tuesday's closure was an encouraging practice run for future emergencies."
We should all hope not.
No one wants to risk life and limb in winter snow conditions, but closing a major transportation artery admits that Mother Nature won that round in the annual war against winter. There are certainly times when blizzard conditions can make a roadway impassible and unsafe; but road closures should be the last resort in preserving winter safety and mobilty.
Studies done at Marquette University in nearby Milwaukee show conclusively that timely application of salt and snow plowing are the most cost-effective defense against winter weather. They reduce traffic crashes by 85% and injuries even more -- 88.3%.
Moreover, closing a road is more than an inconvenience. Moving freight reliably is a major asset for the economy -- it means jobs and ensures the local economy can compete against regions -- and countries -- not so weather -challenged. That's why the Wisconsin Department of Local Affairs and Development produced a film, "Wisconsin Works in Winter," to use in its economic development efforts to convince industries to locate in the Badger State. Manufacturers need to get their workers to the plant, bring in raw materials and ship out finished goods, all on a reliable timetable, a timetable upset when winter maintenance efforts fail. Work done at Iowa State University documented that shippers value not only timely deliveries, but the costs of shipping delays, particularly "non-recurrent" delays they cannot anticipate.
So, hurray for WI DOT for its life-saving communications program, but rather than heralding a hopeful future pattern for winter storm response, we hope Wisconsin snowfighters do as they've done before: conduct a thoughtful post-storm debriefing to find out why their crews were unable to quell Mother Nature and keep cars and trucks moving safely on the road. Otherwise, when winter's snows close Wisconsin roadways, they may find the jobs have moved to Texas by Springtime.
Dick Hanneman
President
Salt Institute
Dec 10, 2008 at 10:20 a.m.
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I hope that they soon give the public access to the camera views like those available in Madison and Milwaukee. It can help determine your route during bad weather or traffic backups.
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