The last couple weeks have felt like spring in Summit County - leaving drivers blindsided by Wednesday’s winter weather conditions.
Lieutenant Andrew Wright with the Summit County Sheriff’s Office said dispatch has received a steady stream of calls over the last few hours. He said the majority have been about crashes, drivers sliding off the road and cars stuck at Parley’s Canyon.
He said it’s likely people have “spring fever” and weren’t prepared for this much snow. But, he said, the amount of calls they’ve received isn’t out of the ordinary for any snow storm.
Summit County Public Works Director Derrick Radke said while they have put away some of their plows already, they aren’t having any problems keeping up with snowfall on the roads they maintain.
S.R. 224 and interstates are managed by the Utah Department of Transportation. Courtney Samuel with UDOT said typically they’re prepared for any storm. He said I-80 and 40 have been particularly hard hit by the storm.
As of Wednesday at 1 p.m., I-80 is facing delays in both directions. Traction devices are required for all vehicles heading eastbound through Parley’s Canyon. Samuel said some of Parley’s has been shut due to crashes.
He said plows are out right now, and their first concern is clearing interstates. Local highways like 224 might be lower on their priorities, and they’ll likely get to them when the storm starts to clear up.
Park City Public Works has been working with UDOT to try to clear 224. Manager Troy Dayley said snow at this time of year is normal, but Wednesday’s storm has brought an unusual amount of snow. To keep up with the accumulation, he said some of his crew will be working through the night.
KPCW will continue to keep you updated on road conditions as more information becomes available.
