‘Limit all travel.’ Major roads still shut down, accidents after snow in Macon, Peach
Remnants of a snow storm disrupted traffic on major roads Wednesday morning in Middle Georgia, leaving drivers stuck on ice-covered travel routes.
Some interstates and state roads were shut down, with vehicles stalled Tuesday night into the morning after around 2-3 inches of snow a day prior, according to a live traffic map by 511 GA.
The National Weather Service said slick pavement will gradually melt under a few hours of above-freezing temperatures Wednesday afternoon, but some areas will still be too slick to drive Thursday morning.
“With freezing temperatures again overnight, shaded or untreated surfaces will likely remain an again issue Thursday morning,” the NWS posted on X around 10:30 a.m. “Any wet surfaces will refreeze tonight.”
A Special Weather Statement warning of black ice was issued until 3 p.m. Wednesday for central to southern Georgia. Temperatures across the state were in the low 30s Wednesday afternoon, and expected to drop during the evening.
Patches of snow and black ice were a hazard for drivers on interstates 16, 75 and 475; and state roads 49 and 96.
These roads were still closed by 10:30 a.m.:
I-475 at North and Southbound near State Road 19/Dixie Road
I-475 Southbound near I-75.
I-16 Westbound past I-75
SR 49 North and Southbound before Whispering Circle
I-16 Eastbound near Sgoda Road
SR 96 North and Southbound near I-75 and the Houston County Line
Two crashes were also reported on I-475 South and northbound near Zebulon Road, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation.
The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office told The Telegraph they would not share any information on vehicle accidents in Macon until at least later this week.
A news release from the sheriff’s office urged drivers to “limit all travel.”
‘Lots of accidents’ in Peach County
Several vehicles slid off road and crashed in Peach County after the snow storm, according to the county Emergency Management Agency.
Slippery roads also delayed emergency response times, EMA Director Ryan Roberts told The Telegraph.
“Lots of accidents ... The roads last night were extremely bad,” Roberts said. “It’s been delayed response because most of the roadways were just iced over.”
Most crashes were minor fender benders or “vehicles leaving the roadway due to ice,” he said.
Roberts anticipates the same conditions Wednesday night.
Vehicles stuck in Jones County
Some drivers got stuck in ditches while others illegally drove off-road vehicles on highways across Jones County Wednesday morning, according to the Jones County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded to about 15 to 20 stalled vehicles Tuesday night through Wednesday morning on Gray Highway and State Road 18 between Jones and Monroe counties, Lt. Kasey Carr said. No injuries or deaths were reported.
“It was kind of an all night thing,” Carr told The Telegraph. “We’re just hooking up to them, pulling them out of the roadway, trying to save them from a tow bill possibly.”
Carr said the sheriff’s office was “improvising” while responding to incidents in the snow.
They used patrol Hummers and other four-wheel drive vehicles to pull vehicles out of ditches, he said.
Some off-road vehicles were also seen illegally riding on state highways, Carr said. Georgia law only allows insured all-terrain vehicles on county-owned roads, not state roads.
“Unfortunately, this morning people were trying to get out and about on them and take them on Gray Highway, even (State Route) 18 West. We saw a few.”
Deputies advised people to avoid driving unless it is absolutely necessary.
“Just because it’s stopped snowing, doesn’t mean the roads are safe yet,” deputies said on Facebook.
Deputy Matthew Dennis recommended not to travel over 45 mph.
“Most are driveable, but all have large amounts of icy spots on them…” Dennis said on Facebook. “I traveled between 24 and 45 (mph) the majority of the night.”
This story may be updated as more information becomes available.
This story was originally published January 22, 2025 at 10:55 AM.