State weighs factors for travel advisories

South Dakota gives drivers tools to make informed choices

By Andrea J. Cook, Journal staff | Friday, January 11, 2008

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After responding to accident calls and eventually rescuing stranded motorists Dec. 21 along Interstate 90 near Wasta, Jim Kitterman, chief of the Wall Fire Department, was mad.

"I've calmed down since that night," Kitterman said recently.

But, Kitterman still has questions about why the interstate was not closed when a fast-moving storm system roared across western South Dakota, creating hazardous driving conditions on a Friday at the beginning of a holiday weekend.

State officials say closing the interstate is not a simple process and that several factors are taken into consideration, including visibility, slick roads and time -- which they did that day.

On Dec. 21, the National Weather Service clocked a wind gust at 56 miles per hour at Rapid City Regional Airport and recorded 1 inch of snow.

The Wall Fire Department and Emergency Medical Service responded to two calls on I-90. For each call, three units were dispatched: an ambulance, a rescue unit and command vehicle.

The first call came about 2 p.m. At that time, the snow and ice covered the road, and winds were blowing between 30 mph and 40 mph, Kitterman guessed.

"The visibility was down to zero to 100 feet," he said.

The second call came more than an hour later, as it started getting dark.

As Kitterman's vehicle approached the accident site west of Wasta, traffic was at a standstill, backed up for two miles.

Kitterman was forced to drive down the median to reach the accident.

Vehicles were in the ditch and stopped on the highway, he said.

Kitterman talked with troopers at the scene and called district Highway Patrol and Department of Transportation offices in Rapid City, asking that the interstate be closed, only to be told it was "not going to happen," he said.

Kitterman's command vehicle, a Ford Excursion, made its final trip back to Wall by following the fog line and driving on the rumble strips marking the edge of the roadway.

The vehicle carried its crew of three responders and five people from Redfield whose van had been hit by two different vehicles.

"We felt our way back to Wall," Kitterman said. "That was the only way you could see. I can't believe they wouldn't shut the interstate down for something like that."

State officials act The South Dakota Department of Transportation and the Highway Patrol had issued a "no travel" advisory about 1:30 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, according to Capt. Randy Hartley, South Dakota Highway Patrol District 3 Commander.

No-travel advisories are not posted on a whim, but because people should not be on the road, Hartley said.

"No-travel advisories are put out because we're recommending that you don't travel; conditions are bad," he said.

Ultimately, people must realize that they must make a good decision about whether or not to go on, Hartley said.

On that particular day, there were people on the road who should not have been, he said.

Debbie Dimmers and her fiance, Joe Lujan, thought they were making good decisions.

The couple was en route from Redfield to Rapid City and Cheyenne, Wyo., with three of Dimmers' children, when their van was hit -- not once, but twice -- on I-90 west of Wasta.

Before leaving Redfield, Lujan had checked weather forecasts, Dimmers said.

"There was no indication that the weather would get bad," she said.

Driving conditions deteriorated as they approached Wall, Dimmers said.

With a schedule to keep, the couple -- both experienced winter drivers -- decided to continue their trip.

After they were on the interstate, the commitment was made, she said.

After their van was damaged, Dimmers and her family rode back to Wall with Kitterman's crew.

Making informed decisions

South Dakota has tried to make it easier for people to make an informed decision about traveling, according to Greg Fuller, DOT director of operations.

The state belongs to Safe Travel USA, a national Web service that posts changing road conditions and provides the 511 call service.

South Dakota also has a series of dynamic message signs along its interstate highway system.

Cameras were added to 21 signs along I-90 and Interstate 29. The still images from the cameras are updated every 10 minutes, according to Fuller.

The state has spent $3.3 million on the message signs, cameras and computer software.

Several factors must be considered when closing an interstate highway, state officials say.

"It takes us time (to close the interstate)," Joel Jundt, DOT's acting region engineer in Rapid City, said.

On Dec. 21, officials determined that by the time the system geared up to close the highway, the storm was expected to pass. Hartley said it took just as long to clear the interstate and get traffic moving as it would have taken to close the interstate.

The interstates are the only roads the state has the ability to physically close with swing-arm gates, but someone must go out and close the gates, which takes time.

And, there is nothing to prevent people from driving around the barriers or getting on the highway from another route.

After the highway is closed, someone must travel the highway to make sure people are off the road.

Hartley said it is also important to give people time to make alternate travel plans or find a place to stay.

"The majority of our problem after 3 p.m. (on Dec. 21) was all westbound traffic, yet road and visibility conditions were the same," he said. "The only difference is the eastbound traffic kept moving."

There were people driving in weather conditions they were not prepared to handle, Hartley said.

As they drove up out of the Wasta valley, a few motorists panicked when they encountered zero visibility and slippery conditions. They slowed to a crawl or stopped completely. Vehicles following them either collided with the stalled traffic or took to the ditch to avoid hitting or being hit by another vehicle.

Hartley drove east on the interstate that afternoon. Although conditions were bad, the road was not impassible, he said.

"It was slippery, and visibility was an issue," Fuller said.

The storm caught travelers unaware, stranding many in small communities along I-90 as far east as Murdo.

Mayors in those small towns say helping travelers caught in foul weather is something a community must be ready to do.

Wall Mayor Dave Hahn estimates that his community throws opens its doors to stranded motorists at least once or twice a year.

Hahn estimates that Wall's population bulged by 750 people that Friday. Although many motel rooms had been winterized and had no water, one motel turned up the heat and allowed people to stay, he said.

After local motels filled, the community center was opened. The center was a haven for at least 225 people.

In Kadoka, 65 people, five dogs and a cat spent the night in the Kadoka Auditorium, Kadoka Mayor Harry Weller said.

"We just do the best we can and make them as comfortable as possible," Weller said.

The New Underwood Community Center also opened its doors to stranded motorists, Mayor Benita White said. At least two families opened their homes to travelers with small children, she said.

The communities all keep a small supply of blankets and other items for these emergencies.

And in each community, residents rallied to provide food, blankets and games to help make the unexpected visitors comfortable.

Dimmers said Wall's hospitality was "a wonderful experience in itself."

Now safe at home in Redfield, Dimmers has learned from her family's experience.

She agrees with Kitterman that closing the interstate might have helped. It's hard to argue with a barrier across the road, she said.

Be informed

511 Traveler Information by phone: By dialing "511" from any phone (cellular or landline) you can receive up-to-date, location-specific information about road restrictions, conditions, and weather on any Interstate, U.S., or state highway in South Dakota and several adjoining states. You can also call toll-free 1-866-MYSD511 (1-866-697-3511). Information about conditions is also available online at www.safetravelusa.

Factors considered when deciding whether or not to close a portion of the interstate include:

* Severity of roadway conditions (Is the roadway impassable, or is there severe drifting?)

* Anticipated duration of the storm

* Geographical area affected by the storm

Source: South Dakota Department of Transportation

Contact Andrea Cook at 394-8423 or andrea.cook@rapidcityjournal.com