2011 Blizzard: How are the roads downtown?

[TURobY]

I just got downtown. I had no problems taking 11th Street yesterday, nor did I have any problems on 15th today; the neighborhoods are still a little iffy. I took 15th & up Boston (14th and Boston was fine), then over to 10th and up Elgin to the Sun Building.

I did get stuck at 6th and Frankfort yesterday, but I was able to rock my vehicle out of that by shifting between 1st gear and reverse. They've probably plowed that by now, but be careful anyway.

[AngieB]

Good to hear! Thanks!!

[nathanm]

There are several abandoned FWD cars on 11th that were not there last night, and it's literally 3 degrees where I'm presently sitting. It's really not advisable to get out if you don't absolutely have to.

If you do go out, dress warmly and take a snow shovel.

[Hoss]

Argh!  Woke up this morning to no running water.  Freaked out because I took ALL necessary precautions.  Called the CoT.  Water main break.  I wish they would inform their customers of this, especially on a morning like this.  Wow.  City of Tulsa FAIL.

[nathanm]

Argh!  Woke up this morning to no running water.  Freaked out because I took ALL necessary precautions.  Called the CoT.  Water main break.  I wish they would inform their customers of this, especially on a morning like this.  Wow.  City of Tulsa FAIL.

Heh, I was just going to say "job well done, assuming you continue to do the job." They've done quite a lot of plowing, including a few streets in my neighborhood. I'm not sure whether to be happy or sad that didn't include the street my driveway is on..

[nathanm]

So I've been out some more and have more updates. 169 is still almost 100% covered in snow, but it's been plowed and packed and the main problem is stupid drivers not grasping the concept of "lanes" when they can't see the markings. I'm fine if they don't feel comfortable driving more than 20mph. I'm not fine with them somehow blocking the entire road while doing so. Also annoyingly, the cleared area is fully three lanes wide, but people are using it as two at best.

The BA is in a similar situation.

244 has at least one lane, and sometimes two fully clear from 169 west to at least Harvard, but you have to watch out for abandoned cars. There's one between Sheridan and Yale that's been buried in the snow, but there's another one sitting in the middle of the rightmost plowed lane between Yale and Harvard.

The westbound Harvard exit from 244 has a semi mostly blocking the exit, but there's a track around it. I wouldn't take it if you don't have ground clearance, as it hasn't been plowed.

The major surface streets are reasonably passable if you know how to drive your car in slick conditions. If you're not comfortable with dealing with oversteer and/or understeer, don't venture out yet. I didn't have to engage 4wd at all once I got out of my neighborhood this time around.

[joiei]

How long are those abandoned cars allowed to sit there blocking the roads before they get impounded? 

[nathanm]

One more pro tip: Don't talk on your cellphone while trying to navigate the snow and ice. Especially if you have a low-slung Mazda hatchback. You will get stuck and your neighbor will have to pull you out. Twice. Maybe three times.

[GG]

Headed into the office about 9:30am from Owasso.   169 south to 244 was snow packed traffic was moving along at about 30mph.   There was a pinch point at 36th street where it goes from 2 lanes to one due to snow drifts, the snow was piled up about 5 feet high along there. 

244 was in much better shape, the were several areas of no snow and you could get up to 45 or so.  But there is a pinch point about the area of the Admiral Twin (RIP) where a stalled car is in the middle of the road way and I noticed on the way home it was still there. 

The inter dispersal loop was in great shape, there was dry roads there.   

Denver was snow packed with some deep ruts that I scraped bottom in the wife's front wheel drive mini van.  I took her van rather than my HHR because it is heavier and has a better ground clearance.

The parking lot at 1408 S. Denver where my office is located had been cleared but was icy.   

Going home we needed the essentials, milk and beer.   So went to the Quik Trip at 15th and Denver, the parking lot was awful, I was concerned about getting stuck so I kept cruising right on through and headed home.   

The Inter Dispersal loop was in great shape.  Got on 244 and it was in better shape than this morning, still patches of packed snow but good stretches of clear road to drive on.   However, their were two kinds of road hazards, those driving 20-25 miles an hour and those driving 60-65 mph.   You could safely drive 45-50 which most of us were, but you had to watch out for the two extremes.   

Got on 169 and the left lane was mostly clear.  The other two on the right was snow packed.   Had to dial it down a bit to 35-40 but it is obvious the further north I went the more snow there was.   

Went to the Quik Trip where the parking lot was snow packed not mushy like in Tulsa.   No milk but there was beer.   

Went to the Braum's across the street no milk.  Plenty of Orange Juice and Butter Milk.  As I was walking out I said to a man walking toward the door there is no milk, he and 3 other people turned around and went back to their cars.   There is not a quart of milk to be found anywhere in Owasso.   I told Jo I should have bought a gallon of Vanilla Ice Cream and we could melt it down for milk.    We have about a quart of milk left in the frig, we will just have to ration it.   

Streets in my neighborhood are still snow packed with one lane drivable.  If I met a car on my block coming the other way one of use would have to back up or risk getting stuck.   We have had no mail since Monday.   

[Hoss]

Headed into the office about 9:30am from Owasso.   169 south to 244 was snow packed traffic was moving along at about 30mph.   There was a pinch point at 36th street where it goes from 2 lanes to one due to snow drifts, the snow was piled up about 5 feet high along there. 

244 was in much better shape, the were several areas of no snow and you could get up to 45 or so.  But there is a pinch point about the area of the Admiral Twin (RIP) where a stalled car is in the middle of the road way and I noticed on the way home it was still there. 

The inter dispersal loop was in great shape, there was dry roads there.   

Denver was snow packed with some deep ruts that I scraped bottom in the wife's front wheel drive mini van.  I took her van rather than my HHR because it is heavier and has a better ground clearance.

The parking lot at 1408 S. Denver where my office is located had been cleared but was icy.   

Going home we needed the essentials, milk and beer.   So went to the Quik Trip at 15th and Denver, the parking lot was awful, I was concerned about getting stuck so I kept cruising right on through and headed home.   

The Inter Dispersal loop was in great shape.  Got on 244 and it was in better shape than this morning, still patches of packed snow but good stretches of clear road to drive on.   However, their were two kinds of road hazards, those driving 20-25 miles an hour and those driving 60-65 mph.   You could safely drive 45-50 which most of us were, but you had to watch out for the two extremes.   

Got on 169 and the left lane was mostly clear.  The other two on the right was snow packed.   Had to dial it down a bit to 35-40 but it is obvious the further north I went the more snow there was.   

Went to the Quik Trip where the parking lot was snow packed not mushy like in Tulsa.   No milk but there was beer.   

Went to the Braum's across the street no milk.  Plenty of Orange Juice and Butter Milk.  As I was walking out I said to a man walking toward the door there is no milk, he and 3 other people turned around and went back to their cars.   There is not a quart of milk to be found anywhere in Owasso.   I told Jo I should have bought a gallon of Vanilla Ice Cream and we could melt it down for milk.    We have about a quart of milk left in the frig, we will just have to ration it.   

Streets in my neighborhood are still snow packed with one lane drivable.  If I met a car on my block coming the other way one of use would have to back up or risk getting stuck.   We have had no mail since Monday.   

No mail here either since Monday.  I went to the QT on Pine and Mingo and suprisingly, there was still quite a bit of milk and bread on hand.  Got some milk and some diet soda as I was unsure as to when the CoT would have the water main repaired that broke this morning.  My water came back on about half-hour ago.  Most of you that have been to one of the lunches with me have seen my car.  Not much on ground clearance.  It was touch and go getting out of the neighborhood on to Admiral, but once I got out there, it wasn't too bad.  Went north on Mingo and it wasn't too bad of a drive northbound.  Coming home southbound, however, was a different story.  I have sports suspension on my vehicle, so I felt every bump and rut.  And there were plenty to go around.  Not only that, I nearly high-centered my car in my neighborhood, and almost couldn't get back up the driveway after spending 2.5 hours clearing it out.  Put down some more Morton's IceMelt so we'll see how it rolls in the morning.  Not sure I'm going to the office since I can work from home, but we'll see.

[nathanm]

Another thing sighted in Broken Arrow: A mail truck.

[guido911]

Another thing sighted in Broken Arrow: A mail truck.

What is this "mail truck" that you speak of?

[BKDotCom]

Anyone know how 75 is?
I'm interested between the Creek and downtown

[joiei]

Why are you all going to QT when all the grocery stores are.open? 

[Hoss]

Why are you all going to QT when all the grocery stores are.open?  

Because most QTs are closer?

Plus, the less time I'm out on the road means less chance these no-snow-driving-morons will run into me or create other havoc.  If Warehouse Market was right around my corner I'd be going to WM.  It's not.  Plus, I didn't need a whole lot of stuff, just staple stuff.  And most people I've talked to say that at most grocery stores they're out of things like milk (needed it), bread (didn't need it) and the like.  QT had it.