Officials: Stay away from elevated stretch of I-84 during icy morning rush hour
Orange County's Emergency Operations Commissioner Pete Cirigliano said that during winter storms, the snow and ice come down harder on the stretch of highway about 1,000 feet above sea level.
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Orange County Emergency Operations officials are preparing for possible hazards on delays Thursday morning on the infamous Greenville Mountain, just east of Port Jervis.
Many residents already know what could be coming during the morning rush hour on this elevated stretch of I-84.
At a rest stop just east of the mountain, staff said they often hear the stories about jackknifed tractor-trailers and hours-long traffic jams. They know when to stay away from the mountain.
"Sometimes I go through Otisville and come down into Middletown to come here instead," rest stop employee Charlie Walsh said. "It's safer, especially with the semis because there's a lot of them on I-84 there."
Semi-truck driver Darnell Smalls drives from Mamaroneck to Binghamton every day. He said he will stop and shelter in the truck's cab rather than risk sliding and blocking I-84.
"I'll wait for the storm trucks to come through, or once the weather starts getting a little bit lighter, and then I'll continue on," he said.
Smalls is most concerned about less cautious drivers — known to truckers as "road cowboys" — who might force him to brake or swerve while coming down the hill.
"Be safe, go at your own pace and don't let anybody rush you," he said before driving off. "You'll be fine."
Orange County Emergency Operations Commissioner Pete Cirigliano said during winter storms, the snow and ice come down harder on the stretch of highway about 1,000 feet above sea level.
Cirigliano said that when a semi-truck jackknifes, traffic becomes backed up, plows are unable to access the road, and snow accumulates, which may force a temporary shutdown of highway traffic.
"It's a ripple effect," he said over the phone Wednesday morning. "If we can keep the tractor-trailers relatively free and clear, then the plows can continue to operate up there."
Cirigliano said a temporary ban on semi-trucks is possible on parts of I-84.
He said that during the Jan. 19 storm, a semi-truck ban on the Pennsylvania side of the border eased traffic on the New York side, lessening the risk of crashes that could create a ripple effect.
Emergency operations officials say towing crews are going to be positioned on Greenville Mountain to immediately respond to any crashes and keep the interstate clear for plows.
