Autauga, Elmore Counties Still Dealing With Ice, Snow on Roads

by WAKA Action 8 News

In Prattville, roads are open, but officials are asking you stay home, unless there’s an emergency. Meanwhile, all roads remain closed in Elmore County.

Driving in Autauga County, you can still see the remains of Tuesday’s winter storm.

“You know, the roads are back open, but you need to come out, be very cautious if you are, but again my suggestion, my recommendation, stay inside where it’s safe, where it’s warm,” said Prattville Mayor Bill Gillespie.

While some businesses here are back open, others are closed another day. Gillespie says the city continues to respond to accident reports, but there are no major problems.

“I’m very proud of our staff, our crews, we were prepared. Could we be a little better prepared? We’re going to research that and see, but we’re going to always try to improve,” he said.

In Elmore County, all roads remained closed Wednesday. Still, that hasn’t stopped people from driving.

“Some areas of the road are fine, but then there are areas where there’s ice patches, and you’ll lost control, and so we want to avoid the same thing that happened yesterday, with the accident on 14, just urge everybody to take a day, just stay in and enjoy it.”

EMA officials say the southwestern part of Elmore County is seeing a big thaw.

“But whenever you get up into the northern half of the county, our roadways are extremely treacherous. Especially, the state highways, they’re extremely treacherous as well,” said Eric Jones with the EMA.

Melody Padgett lives in Elmore County and says she’s seen icy roads stretch from the county road where she lives to downtown Wetumpka. “Especially near the bridges, it’s real bad. There was like, cars in the ditch going towards slapout. Yeah, it’s bad. I’m from up north, and this is bad,” she said.

Autauga County officials say one of the most dangerous areas is Highway 31 to Montgomery, and that road remained closed for much of the day.

In Elmore County, Highway 14 is still very slick, especially on bridges and low-lying areas.