Lance Barry is reporting live from Tri-State roads Tuesday morning, bringing you real-time video of the road conditions.
Lance is able to send back a live picture of the roads and report from the passenger seat, while another 9News staffer safely drives the car. Here is a blog of what he has found so far Tuesday morning:
6 a.m. - We began traveling I-71 north from the Channel 9 studios on Gilbert Avenue and by the time we were at the Taft exit we saw a Chevy Trailblazer spin in front of a group of cars. Luckily the driver was able to get his SUV turned around before he was hit.
We then traveled to the Norwood lateral, and to I-75 eventually into Butler County. As soon as we crossed into Butler County, the roads were not nearly as good on 75, in fact, what had become visible pavement changed back into snow.
7:15 a.m. - We turned around on I-75, and headed back close to downtown Cincinnati, and are currently on I-74 westbound. The snow in the Cheviot area is really coming down, and road conditions have significantly deteriorated. That area has a higher elevation that surrounding areas, and that is not helping.
We have not gotten much over 40 mph all morning.
8 a.m. - We just traveled into Dearborn County where it is by far the worst conditions we've seen. Slushy, thicker snow and harsh driving conditions.
9 a.m. - We just made it through Hebron, and then onto Florence. We are currently on KY 18. We just passed a guy who saw our Channel 9 van and waved at us....while he was talking on his cell phone...on a very snowy road. Yikes. Snow has now covered most of the pavement again here as it is snowing very hard.
9:35 a.m. - We made it to 471, the road surfaces there we actually much cleaner than a lot of places. The snow has now turned into that infamous "brownish" slush color on the roads.
I can't even estimate how many cars we have seen this morning on the side of the roads. Some resting against guardrails, many abandoned. Others were in the median, and a few were turned the wrong way after spinning out.
10 a.m. - We have made it to downtown Cincinnati. While school is out for most students, work still beckoned for many people apparently, because downtown seemed to be bustling as always. Roads here are quite passable, which is what you would expect. If they aren't clear in the heart of downtown, it's likely they aren't very good anywhere in the city.
We are headed back to the station now, and will be heading back out for the noon news. If you haven't see this technology in action before, be sure to join us then. Live, moving pictures, as we drive.
