Morning update: Avoid travel

Font Size:

By Rick Rector | Tuesday, December 11, 2007 9:02 AM CST | () comments

It’s raining and 31 degrees out in the Quad-Cities. The rain is creating a sheet of ice. The word for the day is caution. Travel is discouraged. Snow, sleet and rain are expected today.

How bad are the roads?

Coming in from west Davenport at 4:00 a.m. -- along Hickory Grove Road and Locust Street to downtown Davenport -- the salt trucks are out and the main roads are slushy. Sidewalks and side streets are sheets of ice. Travel is treacherous, but not impossible, as traffic is light, but as people begin their commutes, it will be slow and could turn ugly fas.

Mike Locander from the Times circulation department at 4:30 a.m. says it is raining hard in the Bettendorf and Pleasant Valley area. Roads were slushy, but passable, but if the temperatures drop, it will be a sheet of ice. Travel is slow going.

Expect incoming and outgoing flights to be delayed at the Quad-City Airport.

SCHOOLS AND BUSINESSES DATABASE

Find the latest school and business closings/delays.

Roads conditions

CLICK HERE for Illinois road conditions. CLICK HERE for Iowa road conditions.

Winter safe driving tips

-- Don't crowd the plow. Remember, a snowplow operator's field of vision is restricted. You may see them, but they may not see you.

-- Watch out for black ice roads that appear clear may be treacherous. Take it slow when approaching intersections, off-ramps, bridges, and shady areas all are prone to black ice.

-- Always keep your gas tank at least two-thirds full to prevent the vehicleís fuel line from freezing.

-- Dress warmly for the weather. Dress in layers of loose-fitting, lightweight clothing in anticipation of unexpected winter weather emergencies.

-- Make sure someone is aware of your travel route.

If your rear wheels skid

-- Take your foot off the accelerator.

-- Steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go. If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they're sliding right, steer right.

-- If your rear wheels start sliding the other way as you recover, ease the steering wheel toward that side. You might have to steer left and right a few times to get your vehicle completely under control.

-- If you have standard brakes, pump them gently.

-- If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the brakes. Apply steady pressure to the brakes.

If your front wheels skid

-- Take your foot off the gas; don't try to steer immediately.

-- As the wheels skid sideways, they will slow the vehicle and traction will return. As it does, steer in the direction you want to go, then accelerate gently.

If you get stuck

-- Do not spin your wheels. This will only dig you in deeper.

-- Turn your wheels from side to side a few times to push snow out of the way.

-- Use a light touch on the gas, to ease your car out.

See news happening? Share it

Drop us an e-mail at newsroom@qctimes.com or give us a call at (563) 383-2235 if you see early morning breaking news such as house fires, traffic accidents and congestion, road conditions, street closures, detours and water main breaks in the Quad-City region.

Getting into the holiday spirit

CLICK here for a listing of all the fun, festivities and information you need to know for the upcoming holidays.

Presidential candidates visit

The following presidential candidates will be in Iowa today weather permitting: Bill Clinton on behalf of Hillary Clinton. 8:30 a.m., West Branch High School, 900 W. Main St., West Branch; 10:45 a.m., Johnny B's Restaurante, 228 N. 2nd St., Wapello; 12:30 p.m., Pzazz Convention and Event Center, 3001 Winegard Drive, Burlington. John Edwards, 12:30 p.m., Eagle Point Lodge, 3900 N. 3rd St., Clinton; 4:30 p.m., home of Women of Steel member Janice Payne, 3107 W. Central Park, Davenport; 7:15 p.m., Eastern Iowa Community College, 152 Colorado St., Muscatine. Mary Matalin on behalf of Fred Thompson, 10:15 a.m., Elite Homes, 310 Collins Road NE, Cedar Rapids; 1:15 p.m., Friends of Fred Thompson Iowa Headquarters, 2530 73rd St., Urbandale; 4:45 p.m., Country Inn and Suites, 4082 4th St. SW, Mason City. Mike Huckabee, 8:30 a.m., Bayliss Park Hall, 530 First Ave., Council Bluffs; 10:30 a.m., Montgomery County YMCA, 101 E. Cherry St., Red Oak; 12:30 p.m., Supertel Inn and Conference Center, 800 Laurel St., Creston; 3 p.m., Boyt Harness Co., One Boyt Drive, Osceola; 6 p.m., Drake University, 2507 University Ave, Des Moines; 7 p.m., Drake University, 2507 University Ave., Des Moines. Mitt Romney, 11:30 a.m., Kaleidoscope at the Hub, Skywalk System, between 5th and 7th on Walnut Des Moines. Ron Paul, 2:45 p.m., Sioux City Convention Center, Upper Level, 801 4th St., Sioux City; 7:30 p.m., Mid America Center (Convention Center), Room A, 1 Arena Way, Council Bluffs.

Road work

Here are the latest road construction work in your area.

Muscatine County

-- Interstate 80 is down to one lane in both directions from exit 265 to exit 267 for bridge construction until April 30.

Henry County

-- Eastbound traffic is restricted to one lane on I-80 at Cleveland Road until December 2008.

-- Drivers on Illinois 78 from 2 miles north of I-80 to Coal Creek should expect lane restrictions during road improvements until December 2008.

Carroll County

-- Eastbound and westbound traffic on US 52 and Illinois 64 from east of Savanna to east of Illinois 78 will be restricted to one lane and controlled by traffic signals until Dec. 1, 2008.

Bureau County

-- Interstate 80 from the Henry County line to Illinois 26 until Dec. 14 will have lane restrictions for patching.