Traffic Gridlock, Weather Delay School Buses; Cities, GDOT Say Stay Home

UPDATE 5:55 P.M.: Alpharetta provides road condition updates.

Earlier this aftenroon Webb Bridge Road at Lake Windward Drive was obstructed by a traffic accident.

Westside Parkway at Sanctuary Parkway also had been onbstructed, as were Milton Avenue at Lee Drive, Academy at North Main and the GA 400 northbound ramp from Mansell Road.

Where have you seen the worst traffic problems?

UPDATE 4 25 P.M.: The winter weather is causing bus delays this afternoon, according to the Fulton County School System.

Parents are asked to be patient and are welcome to pick up their children directly from school if they wish. That seems improbable on most Alpharetta roads, however, as traffic seems completely gridlocked.

More closures, including some in Fulton County on Wednesday.

Milton City Hall has closed so city employees can get home safely, as have library branches, including the Alpharetta Library branch on Mayfield Road. Other closures include:

• Fulton County released all non-mission essential personnel at 1 p.m.
• Superior, State, Juvenile, Magistrate and Probate Courts are closed.  The Fulton County Clerk of Superior Court is also closed for the remainder of today.
•  Fulton County Neighborhood Senior Centers are closed for the remainder of the day.
• Fulton County’s three Training Centers for adults with developmental disabilities will be closed for the remainder of the day.
• Fulton County Behavioral Health and Health and Wellness clinics are closed for the remainder of the day.

UPDATE 2:15 P.M.: The Alpharetta Department of Public Safety has activated its emergency Command and Control Center to monitor the weather, and has advised of problem areas on specific roads.

Department spokesman George Gordon said the city is receiving reports of icy roadway conditions in the following areas:

• Mayfield Road
• Webb Bridge near Creekview Elementary
• Harris Road
• Westside Parkway near the Honda facility
• Kimball Bridge overpass
• Webb Bridge near Big Creek
• Milton Avenue at Canton Street
• Area of Preston Ridge

 "The City of Alpharetta is experiencing significant traffic jams involving many main roadways," Gordon said.

The city is advising of rapidly deteriorating road conditions in the city and surrounding areas, said James Drinkard, Alpharetta assistant city administrator. In addition to the roads Gordon listed, Drinkard said Club House Drive is slippery.

Windward parkway has begun to have ice forming at its edges. Traffic is still at a crawl in the right lane eastbound, but is moving a little bit more in the left lane. Westbound traffic is just as slow.

"Conditions and heavy traffic due to school and some business closures have gridlocked most streets and roads," he said "Motorists should consider all bridges, overpasses, and shaded areas to be icy and use extreme caution on all area roadways."

Public works crews are responding to trouble areas.

Motorists are encouraged to have patience, maintain adequate distance between vehicles, yield to emergency vehicles and to not travel if possible," Gordon said. said.

UPDATE 1:55 P.M.: Fulton County Schools has dismissed all students early, as of 1:45 p.m.

Parents can stop by their children's schools and pick them up. Bus transportation is in progress, but parents are welcome to pick up their children at school if they wish. 

UPDATE 1:15 p.m.: Haynes Bridge Road over Ga. 400 has been closed until it is safe to drive over, according to George Gordon of the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety.

Patch will provide updates when that section of road reopens and on other road conditions.

Also in Fulton County, early voting for the Special Election Run-Off for House District 22 in Milton has been canceled for the remainder of today, Jan. 28.

PREVIOUS UPDATE

The storm watch became a storm warning Monday afternoon. But it appears Alpharetta and Milton will have less snow accumulation than Atlanta, as less than an inch is expected in North Fulton by the National Weather Service. Wednesday will be cold and mostly sunny, but by Saturday the high will reach 60.

Original Article

Alpharetta and Milton could have sleet and snow falling starting mid-morning Tuesday, prompting the City of Alpharetta to issue a winter weather advisory until Wednesday afternoon.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter warning watch, but has changed it to 9 a.m. Tuesday through Wednesday at 7 a.m. It forecasts a band of winter weather that could produce sleet and snow accumulations of  ½ inch to 2 inches in the Alpharetta-Milton area. Snow is expected to begin as early as mid morning Tuesday and last into Tuesday night.

Snow and ice covered roads will make travel difficult or impossible Tuesday night into Wednesday. Ice accumulation on trees and power lines may down large limbs and cause power outages.

The chance that this storm hits the area seems to be growing.

The National Weather Service offers its advice on dealing with the weather, including to be sure to buy non-perishable foods. Make contingency plans if you plan on traveling during this period. If you can change your travel, do so before the event starts. "Now is the time to plan. Do not wait for the warning," the National Weather Service advises.

The City of Alpharetta is encouraging residents to plan ahead and take steps now to prepare.

• Monitor weather forecasts closely over the next 36 to 48 hours, as the situation continues to develop and change rapidly.
• Winterize water pipes and water heaters to avoid broken lines and water damage.
• Heat all rooms with plumbing fixtures, particularly those with plumbing on outside walls.  Open cabinet doors under sinks to let heat in.  This is no time to try to save a few pennies on your heating bill.
• Keeping a trickle of water running during extremely cold times can help prevent pipes from freezing.  This is most effective with faucets that are farthest from the point where the main water line enters the house or on outside walls.
• Locate the water cutoff valve to your house now so you can find it quickly if a pipe does break.