Pittsburgh at level 2 snow alert, crews out in full force to handle storm

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh officials are very concerned about the freezing rain and ice that is in the forecast but said they're ready.

Officials told Channel 11 that it’s way easier to plow and clear off 10 inches of snow than to battle icy roads.

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Extra medic units will be added to the city’s emergency fleet to assist with accidents or any kind of medical emergency caused by the weather, officials said.

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The city’s fleet of plows and salt trucks will be out in full force as soon as the system starts.  If the rain continues, the city will not pre-treat the roads because the rain just washes it away.  If the rain stops, or there is only a light mist, the city will put down rock salt and calcium chloride before the freezing rain starts.

“We ask folks, go home and hunker down, go home and hunker down until tomorrow. Again, the freezing rain we’ll have to deal with overnight.  We’re going to see all the snow until 6 a.m. in the morning and it’s going to be heavy snow overnight,” Guy Costa, Pittsburgh’s chief operations officer said.

All non-essential city employees might be sent home early today to avoid a potentially treacherous rush hour. City officials said the storm coming has activated a level two snow alert.

PennDOT says the following roads in District 10 are closed due to flooding:

Armstrong County

•    Route 3011, Worthington Slatelick Road/SR 3004/Bear Road, is closed between Yellow Dog Road and Green Acres Road in West Franklin Township.
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•    Route 4035, Craigsville Road/Yellow Dog Road, is closed between Airport Road/Yellow Dog Road and Old Butler Road in West Franklin Township.

•    Route 3013, Nicola Road/Mushroom Farm Road is closed between Hindman Hill Road and the Butler County line in West Franklin Township.

•    Route 1028, Oscar Road/Anderson Creek Road is open between Route 1035 in Boggs Township and Route 1037 in Wayne Township.

•    Route 1004 is closed between Route 1002 and Scenic Road/Poseytown Road in Madison Township.

•    Route 3007, Glade Run Road, is open between Route 128 in Cadogan Township and Pony Farm Road in North Buffalo Township.

Butler County

•    Route 3007 Three Degree Road, remains closed between Route 3006, Renfrew Road, Penn Township Penn Township. This closure is expected to remain in place through Tuesday, January 16. The posted detour uses Route 3002, Whitestown Road,  to Route 8 to Route 3010, Brownsdale Road.

•    Route 3027 Hartmann Road/Seneca School Road is closed between Route 68 and Textor Hill Road in Jackson Township.

•    Route 3007, Three Degree Road, is open between Union Church Road, in Adams Township and West Road in Forward Township.

•    Route 2002, Herman Road/Ziegler Avenue is open between Stutz Road and Simon Drive in Summit Township.

•    Route 3006, Renfrew Road, is closed between Three Degree Road and Thornbrook Drive in Penn Township.

•    Route 38 is closed between Hendricks Road in Summit Township and Hoon Road/Pine Track Road in Center Township.

Cox Media Group