Messy, Icy Roads Usher In Legislative Session
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- On the day before the 2014 Minnesota Legislative session starts, the cold weather is still a hot topic. Like many Minnesotans, some lawmakers are wondering why the road conditions are still so difficult.
Last week's winter storm left many state roads in terrible shape, and days later some roads are still hard to drive on.
"This hurts real Minnesotans," State Sen. Dave Thompson, a GOP candidate for Governor, said. "People trying to get to work. People trying to get their children places. And our roads have been a mess."
Thursday's snow blast was a perfect storm of problems.
First, rain washed away de-icing chemicals. Then, there was a sudden temperature drop followed by heavy snow. During rush hour, as thousands of cars compacted that snow along with a deep freeze that salt could not melt.
MNDOT says if it snowed the same way tomorrow, it would mobilize exactly the same way.
MNDOT says snow plow drivers have been out 24/7 since the Big Blast, and cleared the worst-hit highways within 24 hours -- but not all the ice.
On Monday, many Minnesota roads remained in Fair driving condition, according to MNDOT highway condition maps.
That's about the same as in Wisconsin, where interstate highways are clear, but state and county roads remain challenging, according to Badger State maps.
The chairman of the Minnesota House Transportation Committee does not disagree with frustrated drivers. He says the state transportation resources are over-burdened and under-funded.
"Our roads are congested to begin with," said State Rep. Frank Hornstein, D-Minneapolis, "and so it doesn't take much in terms of weather to really cause problems."
MNDOT says plows are out again Monday night, as they have been every day and night since the storm last week.
