'It's very treacherous out there': Road crews hope salt will start melting snow soon

Scott Broden, Murfreesboro Daily News Journal
Updated ·5 min read

Road plowing and salt spreading crews hope conditions will improve soon to clear the snow and ice, a county official said.

"When the sun comes out (Wednesday), I believe we will start to see some significant melting because of the salt that we have already applied to our road system," Rutherford County Highway Superintendent Greg Brooks said Tuesday.

The subfreezing temperatures combined with reports of up to 6.9 inches of snow in Rutherford County have meant unsafe roads and the closing of schools and local government offices this week following Monday's MLK Holiday.

Vicki Williams shovels her sidewalk in front of her home on Lynnford Drive on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024, after snow began falling on Sunday and continued through Monday afternoon. Williams removed the snow since her house is going on the market on Wednesday.
Vicki Williams shovels her sidewalk in front of her home on Lynnford Drive on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024, after snow began falling on Sunday and continued through Monday afternoon. Williams removed the snow since her house is going on the market on Wednesday.

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Brooks has crews operating four trucks with snow plows and salt spreaders to focus on about 600 miles of two-lane county roads. His oversight includes 980 miles overall when including subdivision streets.

"At these temperatures, the salt does not work very well if at all," said Brooks, who oversees 68 employees. "We are having a lot of refreezing every night, which is more problematic than the snow itself."

Brooks recommends people stay home if possible.

"It's very treacherous out there," Brooks said.

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Meteorologist: Weather may rise above freezing by Thursday

The dangerous road conditions follow a snow fall with reports ranging from 6.9 inches about 5 miles south of Murfreesboro, 6.7 inches in La Vergne and 5.9 inches in Smyrna, said Mark Rose, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service office for the Nashville area.

Eli Seay, 4, slides down hill at Barfield Park as he endures the cold to play in the show on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024.
Eli Seay, 4, slides down hill at Barfield Park as he endures the cold to play in the show on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024.

The snow for this recent storm is done. Temperatures will remain below freezing through Wednesday, Rose said.

"We don’t expect to be above freezing until maybe Thursday," he said.

The temperatures might rise above freezing again by Sunday and will definitely be above freezing by Monday, Rose said.

Esther Konchella, who is visiting her sister from Kenya, enjoys the snow as she slides down a slide at Barfield Park on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. Show remains on the ground after snow started falling on Sunday and continued through Monday afternoon.
Esther Konchella, who is visiting her sister from Kenya, enjoys the snow as she slides down a slide at Barfield Park on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. Show remains on the ground after snow started falling on Sunday and continued through Monday afternoon.

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Interstate highways remain safety concern

The Tennessee Department of Transportation is also encouraging motorist to stay home while TDOT crews continue to clear the roads of snow and ice while temperatures remain dangerously low, according to a TDOT press release on Monday.

Snow that was removed from the roads and parking spaces in downtown Murfreesboro can be seen piled in areas around the square on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024.
Snow that was removed from the roads and parking spaces in downtown Murfreesboro can be seen piled in areas around the square on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024.

"Conditions will remain hazardous for at least the next 24 hours," the TDOT press release said.

As of Monday, TDOT had responded to hundreds of incidents on the snow covered roads, including many of them involving more than one vehicle. In the mid-state alone, TDOT relocated 275 vehicles. In West Tennessee, 82 drivers have been helped in the last 24 hours, and in East Tennessee more than 200.

TDOT crews are working around the clock and focused on keeping primary routes, mainly interstates, clear. Crews will target areas vulnerable to freezing, such as hills, curves, ramps, bridges, and interchanges.

"Please, if you do not need to travel, stay home," the TDOT press release said. "We want you and our crews, to remain safe."

People can use their cell phones or computers to search TDOT updates about road conditions through SmartWay traffic cameras at www.TNSmartWay.com/Traffic. Travelers can also dial 511 for travel information, or follow TDOT tweets for statewide travel on the X social media platform at https://twitter.com/myTDOT.

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Schools and governments close offices

Rutherford County, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, La Vergne and Eagleville closed government offices Tuesday and Wednesday for non-essential services.

Officials overseeing Rutherford County Schools, Murfreesboro City Schools and Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro also all made decisions to close early in the week and remain closed through Friday.

Rutherford Mayor Joe Carr said Tuesday he hopes the closed offices for his government can reopen by Thursday if the slippery road conditions improve.

"We're just not going to risk the health and safety of our county residents just so we can keep our offices open one more day," Carr said. "It is our hope and expectations, and we’re making every effort, to be open normal hours on Thursday."

By Wednesday afternoon, Rutherford County spokeswoman Lisa Kaye announced that offices would be opened on Thursday.

Smyrna spokeswoman Heather Kent announced that Town Hall would open by 9 a.m. Thursday.

La Vergne spokeswoman that her city will open offices at 10 a.m. Thursday.

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Snow covers the street and yards Tuesday (Jan. 16, 2024) in this Smyrna area neighborhood.
Snow covers the street and yards Tuesday (Jan. 16, 2024) in this Smyrna area neighborhood.

VA hospitals will remain open

All services at the Nashville and Alvin C. York VA Medical Centers will be operational Wednesday, except for mental health and primary care, according to a press release from Joshua Cox, spokesman for the VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System.

Middle Point Landfill extends hours

Middle Point Landfill announced in a press release that it's responding to trash hauling delays by extending hours to the following days:

  • Thursday and Friday: 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.

  • Saturday: 5 a.m. to 5p.m.

  • Sunday: half day as needed for large commercial and municipal customer

The landfill was closed Monday and Tuesday because of unsafe driving conditions for haulers, according to a press release from Ann Marie Anderson. Middle Point operators have been working with the Rutherford County Sheriff’s office to clear Jefferson Pike near the entrance of the landfill that's in the Walter Hill community near the northside of Murfreesboro.

“We are here to help businesses reopen and resume their operations when they are ready,” Middle Point general manager Mike Classen said in the press release. “As they need us, we will be here with gates open ready to help with delays in waste collection.”

Landfill operators will consider extending hours next week as well if needed, in consultation with haulers and waste collectors.

Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at sbroden@dnj.com. To support his work with The Daily News Journal, sign up for a digital subscription.

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: UPDATE: Road crews hope salt will start melting Rutherford snow soon