KARK Takes Drive Around Town to Look at Road Conditions
By: Marci Manley, KARK 4 News
Updated: January 15, 2013
Icy roadways can bring traffic to a standstill, and as night falls on Little Rock slush can become a frozen field day.
We started out off of Rodney Parham, heading toward an overpass, because those can be problematic and more likely to freeze first.
While major sections of Rodney Parham, and other thoroughfares like Cantrell, were largely clear of slush for car travel, side roads like Napa Valley weren't really as reliable.
It was already getting slick by 8 p.m. The roads were mostly wet, but there were definite slick spots. And nearing 8:30 p.m. on the drive back to the station, even the curves on Cantrell started to show a dangerous sheen.
As the night wears on and temperatures dropped, we learned slowing down was our best bet.
"Right now we're going roughly 20 miles an hour which is less than the speed limit on this road," I told photographer Adam Randall, who was shooting video in the passenger seat. "We're spinning out and getting notification the wheels aren't really on the strongest ground."
"Like right there," I said as we approached a red light and the brakes began to grind. "Coming to a stop isn't the easiest thing."
The roads start to slowly freeze, but what was water on overpasses becomes black ice almost instantly. And that could mean close calls, with bridges' barriers if you aren't careful.
Hills -- can also be a harrowing experience. Coming to a complete stop can spell disaster as you try to reach the top, losing traction and spinning out on slick ice spots. Heading down hill, you want to be wary of slamming on brakes, both for the safety of those behind you.
We started out off of Rodney Parham, heading toward an overpass, because those can be problematic and more likely to freeze first.
While major sections of Rodney Parham, and other thoroughfares like Cantrell, were largely clear of slush for car travel, side roads like Napa Valley weren't really as reliable.
It was already getting slick by 8 p.m. The roads were mostly wet, but there were definite slick spots. And nearing 8:30 p.m. on the drive back to the station, even the curves on Cantrell started to show a dangerous sheen.
As the night wears on and temperatures dropped, we learned slowing down was our best bet.
"Right now we're going roughly 20 miles an hour which is less than the speed limit on this road," I told photographer Adam Randall, who was shooting video in the passenger seat. "We're spinning out and getting notification the wheels aren't really on the strongest ground."
"Like right there," I said as we approached a red light and the brakes began to grind. "Coming to a stop isn't the easiest thing."
The roads start to slowly freeze, but what was water on overpasses becomes black ice almost instantly. And that could mean close calls, with bridges' barriers if you aren't careful.
Hills -- can also be a harrowing experience. Coming to a complete stop can spell disaster as you try to reach the top, losing traction and spinning out on slick ice spots. Heading down hill, you want to be wary of slamming on brakes, both for the safety of those behind you.
