Post-storm gridlock: Hundreds of trucks crowd into Walcott

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By Tom Saul | Friday, February 8, 2008 9:37 AM CST | () comments

Truck driver Bob Good talks about being stuck at the Iowa 80 Truckstop near Walcott, Iowa, since Tuesday due to the snowstorm. Buy this Photo

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WALCOTT, Iowa — Walcott Police Chief David Kopatich called it a “no room at the inn" situation.

Hundreds of trucks trying to get into the Iowa 80 Truckstop in west Scott County met up with those trying to get out, causing a massive tie-up Thursday as some truckers simply left their rigs on the interstate and police and Scott County sheriff’s deputies tried to untangle the huge knot of steel and rubber.

As many as 900 of the big rigs were in the truck stop’s lot, which is designed to hold 800, said Heather DeBaillie, marketing manager for the complex of stores, restaurants, fuel depots, repair shops and other businesses.

“It’s kind of like when a rock concert ends and everyone wants to get out at once,” DeBaillie said. “You need someone out there to direct traffic.”

Early Thursday, the sheriff’s department urged drivers to avoid the Walcott interchange at Interstate 80.

The Iowa Department of Transportation also advised drivers of difficult driving conditions on the interstate from Iowa City to the Illinois state line. By about noon, the DOT continued to post an alert on its Web site warning of partially snow-covered lanes and prohibitions against towing, but the congestion at Walcott was largely cleared up.

The problem began Tuesday as a fierce winter storm swept in that ultimately dumped about a foot of snow on parts of the region, Kopatich said. Truckers began looking for a place to get off the road to get fuel or to spend the night. Many congregated at the Iowa 80 Truckstop.

The truck stop soon filled to capacity, Kopatich said. Truckers who wanted to leave after the snow passed were unable to move as more semis tried to get in. Those that continued to try to get in clogged the interchange, with some leaving their rigs on the ramps or along the sides of the highway.

A few breakdowns and accidents between Walcott and Iowa City also contributed to the congestion, said Iowa State Patrol Trooper Dan Loussaerp. The westbound ramp on I-80 leading to the truck stop was closed for about two hours as law enforcement officers tried to clear broken-down and abandoned semis and deal with the tangle of traffic congestion.

It was no picnic for the truckers, either, many said. Some could be seen playing cards at the truck stop or logging on to their laptop computers. Others took time to do laundry or get a haircut. But mostly, they just waited to get back on the road.

Ray Combs, 64, was delivering a load from North Carolina to St. Paul, Minn., with a side delivery to Davenport, he said. He was stuck in the truck stop starting Tuesday afternoon. The main problem, he said, was that he couldn’t get out to make his Davenport stop.

“If I don’t get out of here by noon, I’ll be stuck for another day, because they don’t take deliveries after noon,” Combs said.

Domenic Bridges, 26, of Quebec, Canada, was on his way to Portland, Ore. He was stuck at the stop for 36 hours. He spent the down time watching TV and DVDs and drinking coffee, but he was anxious get back on his way, he said.

Bob Good, 48, was headed with a load from Ohio to Fargo, N.D., and was trapped at the stop since Tuesday afternoon, he said. He spent two nights in the sleeper cab of his semi. He was unable to move because of the gridlock in the parking lot. He figured that the down time was costing him about $7,500 a day.

DeBaillie said she took the situation in stride.

“It’s just another day at the world’s largest truck stop,” she said.

Tom Saul can be contacted at (563) 383-2453 or tsaul@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at www.qctimes.com.