Storm makes Capital Region roads treacherous

PHOTOGRAPHER: Erica Miller

Derek Constable, left, and Emanuel Lopez clear snow on at a resident's home on Woodlawn Avenue in Saratoga Springs, Dec. 29, 2015.

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Snow, sleet, freezing rain and gusty winds are creating treacherous driving conditions across upstate New York as eastern parts of the state receive their first severe weather of the winter season.

Roads in and around Schenectady remained messy as state and local road crews continued to clear and salt streets late into the morning.

State crews responded to a handful of incidents on I-90 near the I-890 interchange toward Schenectady, clearing incidents just as others were reported, according to the New York Department of Transportation.

Conditions on I-90 were listed as wet and moving at a moderate speed, according to DOT’s map of road conditions. But I-890 through Schenectady was still listed under the “snow and ice” category on the DOT maps. Most of the state highways in and around the city – Routes 5, 7, 146 and more – were also still listed under “snow and ice” by DOT.

Steve Lichorat, a road maintenance supervisor with Schenectady County, said the state and county roads they cover were slushy but “very travelable.” He said 21 plows had been working the roads since 9 p.m. Monday night, laying 895 pounds of salt per lane mile. They were continuing to clear the roads of salt in anticipation of freezing temperatures returning by the end of the day.

“We are trying to get the roads as dry as possible,” Lichorat said.

A crash on I-90 in Rensselaer County earlier this morning closed lanes in both directions between exits 9 and 10, and reportedly killed one person.

The National Weather Service says 1 to 4 inches has fallen from the Albany area northwest to the Mohawk Valley and north to the southern Adirondacks. The weather service has posted winter weather advisories for all of New York on Tuesday.

There are multiple incidents on I-87, as well as one on I-890 at exit 7 in Rotterdam, according to 511ny.org.