UPDATE: Bypass reopened after black ice forced closure

SBT24/7 News Report

Tools

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Feb 9, 2008 at 10:41 PM EST

Story Updated: Feb 10, 2008 at 6:20 AM EST

SOUTH BEND — The eastbound lanes of the Bypass were closed shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday because of dangerous conditions. Despite several accidents, the road was reopened just before midnight.

Emergency crews said stretches of the road were a sheet of black ice, with several slide-offs and accidents reported.

St. Joseph County dispatchers said officials were closing everything from U.S. 31 in South Bend to the Elkhart County line.

South Bend officials also were looking at closing portions of the road, county dispatchers said. They also warned that the area near Cleveland and Ironwood roads was quite slick. An accident was reported at Brick and Lilac roads as well.

With plummeting termperatures, a thin layer of snow and expected high winds, travel was expected to remain dangerous into Sunday morning.

For further updates, check back with SBT24/7 News at www.southbendtribune.com, WSBT.com and WSBT Radio News.

Sunday, Feb 10 at 11:28 AM missygurl wrote ...

hey now I have never been in an accident in 35 years but let me tell you I could not drive over 15 miles and my back end was still slipping it was slick out there at 11:45 p.m. last night people do need to slow way down...It makes me so mad when I have people tailgating me trying to make me go faster but I take my time cause if I wreck my insurance goes up and they just drive on by, sometimes I pull over to let them pass then being an EMT help them after they wreck, when I slowly get there

Sunday, Feb 10 at 11:08 AM Disturbed wrote ...

Re: In Good Hands. Amen! Preach On! I agree with you 100% but it will fall on deaf ears.The bypass is expected to be bad it runs somewhat in a east to west direction and guess what,that's usually the way the wind blows,combine that with open fields,the high hills in some spots,the noise barriers between Miami rd. and Ireland rd. and you have a nice little wind tunnel.Same reason county roads get worse than city streets,nothing to block the wind and snow.

Sunday, Feb 10 at 10:50 AM Anonymous wrote ...

I use the bypass everymorning. I normally travel it at around 5 in the morning. My question is why when it is snowing do I see a Snowplow sitting in the Church parking lot just off the exit when it should be spread salt/sand and plowing snow. This is just not a one time thing I see the same County Plow there when ever it is snowing. Seems last year and this year the plows ar not doing thier job.

Sunday, Feb 10 at 10:24 AM driven wrote ...

I have driven on the bypass since it was opened. I do agree there are some areas that need redone and looked at and more entries/exits towards Elkhart. Who is it that can do this? Drivers, all voices need to be heard before more people are injured,jobs are lost due to the lack of exits,cars are off the side. Driver error is also a big, big factor,slow down.Mother Nature owns the roads, not us.

Sunday, Feb 10 at 9:52 AM In good hands wrote ...

They should measure the distance of sliding to determine how fast these dumb drivers so they can size up the tickets porportionally, not just the fact black ice is there, it's knowing how to drive!! Who been teaching drivers education these days?? Yeah, right, SUVs might get you out of a stuck situation, but not gonna stop any quicker than anyone else. Yes, I've seen people pass me in poor conditions and minutes later, I pass them after they wrecked/slide-off. COMMON SENSE!! WAKE UP PEOPLE!

Sunday, Feb 10 at 7:46 AM D wrote ...

It would be interesting to know why the bypass is always the worst road in the area when the weather gets even a little bit bad.

Sunday, Feb 10 at 2:53 AM Bonnie wrote ...

around 10:30 I was coming east on Cleveland from the mall area and when i reached castle point the show was blowing from the entrance and the hill just to the west was a glare of black ice. As we tried to keep slow on the steep hill we saw one 3 cars spin out. As i reached cleveland rd and 933 we found the street lights out and police directing traffic.

Sunday, Feb 10 at 1:44 AM Anonymous wrote ...

No, it's the morons passing me going too fast considering the conditions that are the smart ones. They're also the ones who will eventually be on the side of the road and blaming anybody but themselves.

Saturday, Feb 9 at 11:43 PM Anonymous wrote ...

How poorly was the bypass designed? Every time there's two flakes of snow everybody & their mother is involved in a slide off. Them engineers is real smart.

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 500 Characters Left

WSBT and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, or remove user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum. Items that may be considered inappropriate to post are those containing profanity, hatred, or insensitive, vulgar, unlawful or threatening comments.
Countdown to Digital TV:

WSBT Weather

icon
Current Temp 13
°
More Weather

On Demand

More On Demand

Stock Quotes

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Tonight On WSBTFull Schedule

7.00
Jeopardy!
7.30
Wheel of Fortune
8.00
CSI: NY
9.00
CSI
10.00
Eleventh Hour
11.00
WSBT News
11.35
Late Show with David Letterman
12.35
Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

Question of The Day

How often do you check your smoke detectors?

E-mail your comments. We'll pick some to read during WSBT News at 5.