Frozen solid puddles trap hundreds of truckers on I-55 & I-22 outside of Memphis from Tuesday night until Thursday morning

Puddles frozen solid in winter conditions brought two interstates outside of Memphis to a stop, trapping hundreds of truck drivers for more than 12 hours. 

The frozen solid puddle issue started in Mississippi on Tuesday evening, January 27th. 

The icy conditions affected Interstate 55 northbound in Panola County, bringing traffic to a standstill from the Como exit to the Pope exit after multiple semi trucks got stuck. Eastbound Interstate 22 in Marshall County was also affected near mile marker 30, along with Interstate 269 near exit 16 in Holly Springs, where multiple tractor trailers also got stuck, reported WLBT 3.

Mississippi Governor Reeves said that emergency crews started working on Tuesday night to help stranded motorists and truck drivers and to clear the interstates. Crews consisted of members of the National Guard, Department of Transportation, and the Emergency Management Agency. 

“Assets have been swarmed—from drones to first responders to wreckers—in order to clear the stalled vehicles in North Mississippi on I-55 and assist those stranded on the road,” Reeves said late Tuesday.

By Wednesday afternoon, there were reportedly only three clear lanes total on Interstates to and from the city of Memphis. 

“This wasn’t an issue of plowing snow,” said David Kenney, a spokesman for the Mississippi Department of Transportation, to Fox 13. “We know how to do that work. Our crews are well versed in plowing snow, but ice removal from an interstate can be a challenge anywhere. I do not believe it is a failure right now. It’s just a mass team effort to get things back to normal.”

As of 7:30 a.m. on Thursday morning, January 29th, MDOT reported that the right lane of northbound I-55 will be open for travel by 8 a.m. MDOT plans to continue clearing I-22 and the left lane of I-55 throughout the day. Drivers and motorists are still urged to use extreme caution, reported 16 ABC.