To say that the New Hampshire ride on Route 93 was problematic this morning is an understatement.   The roadway was closed for several hours from at least 5 AM to 9:30 AM or so. The major culprit was icy roads. Two tractor trailers jackknifed on both sides of Route 93 early this morning. As a result, the southbound side was closed at Exit 4 in Londonderry, and the northbound side was closed at Exit 3, Route 111 in Windham. Add to that a series of spinouts and minor crashes from the NH/MA Line to Exit 5, Route 28 in North Londonderry. Vehicles were scattered all over the roadway. The SmarTraveler Operations Center received many calls from NH commuters who were stopped for over two hours in the traffic backups. Major alternates Route 28 and the Everett Turnpike were heavily traveled as motorists looked to avoid Route 93.

In Massachusetts, we fared better. No roads closed here, but we saw very heavy volume, long delays, and many spinouts and minor accidents. Route 495 South was slow with a truck rollover on the Double Decker Bridge in Lawrence. Drive times were double or triple the norm north of town. Route 93 South from NH to 128 wasn’t backed up too badly, as most of the traffic was stuck in NH. However, Route 128 South was jammed from Peabody to Weston and travelers reported a two and a half hour drive time. Route 3 South was an hour’s drive from NH to 128. Many people sought Route 3 as an alternate to Route 93 in NH.

Another reason for today’s slowdowns was solar glare. After a snowstorm, the sun’s reflection off the wet roads and the white snow banks can be intense and temporarily blinding to the driver. That translates into slower speeds and longer travel times.

Not an easy trip for pedestrians today, either. Many sidewalks are coated with ice and extremely slippery, so be careful walking. Side roads are slick and stopping distances are greater, so be extra careful crossing the street.

How long did it take you to drive in this morning? How did you find the road conditions?