Main roads are still largely snow-filled, country roads are drifting in places

The Illinois Department of Transportation says the interstate highways and major state and U.S. routes in south-central Illinois are snowy or partially snowy Monday morning. All are passable, but with some caution.

If you travel, the snow and ice covered roads stretch from south of Chicago to the Kentucky line and across the state from the Missouri to the Indiana State Lines.

Marion County Sheriff Kevin Cripps says country roads are an absolute disaster. Snow drifts in some areas, especially east-west roads. Some vehicles have become stuck and a tow truck had to be called for one of the trucks that tried to help a motorist.

Cripps notes that the last batch of snow and wind was not our friend, with crews in some cases unable to keep roads open for very long due to wind drift.

The sheriff is urging everyone to stay home if at all possible and give crews time to clear the roads after the storm clears.

Salem Public Works Director Travis Sanders says all city streets remain snow-covered. They are pushing snow and will be all day. Sanders notes that there could be a slight thaw Monday, which will make the streets very slippery after a refreeze.

Centralia Public Works Director Jeff Schwartz says they have plowed the one road that makes up US 51 and State Route 161 and other major roads. Once they are ready, they will branch out to the roads less traveled. He notes that they had cleared many roads on Sunday night, but the extra snow and wind will result in having to start over.

Salem Township Highway Commissioner Joe Telford says township roads remain snowy and icy and drifting, but they are trying to stay ahead of operations.

Centralia Township Roads are all said to be snow covered but passable.

The Salem Water Plant recorded 5.5 inches of snow Sunday for a total snowfall on the ground of about six inches. The snow and sleet melted down to 88 hundredths of an inch of precipitation. The Centralia Water Plant reported 5 inches of snow on the ground, with 3.75 inches coming in the 24 hours ending at seven o’clock Monday morning.