River Valley weather makes Arkansas River bridges dangerous

Zach Frost with Pro's Pressure Washing spreads salt Monday, Jan. 30, 2023, in the parking lot at Evelyn Hills in Fayetteville after ice fell overnight. (NWA Democrat-Gazette/Andy Shupe)
Zach Frost with Pro's Pressure Washing spreads salt Monday, Jan. 30, 2023, in the parking lot at Evelyn Hills in Fayetteville after ice fell overnight. (NWA Democrat-Gazette/Andy Shupe)


FORT SMITH -- The Van Buren Police Department reported all bridges in and out of the city are slick and hazardous. It reported numerous accidents caused long delays Monday morning and asked the public to avoid traveling across these bridges if possible.

All Crawford County school districts were closed Monday and switched to alternative learning.

The Crawford County Courthouse and the city offices in Van Buren also closed due to weather.

The Arkansas Department of Transportation's I Drive Arkansas website reported Interstate 40 to the Bobby Hopper Tunnel and U.S. 62 as mostly clear with ice patches as of Monday morning.

The National Weather Service in Tulsa, Okla., placed Sebastian, Crawford and Franklin counties under a winter weather advisory Monday morning. The advisory, which includes Fort Smith, Van Buren, Ozark and Charleston, will remain in effect until 6 a.m. Wednesday.

A detailed forecast for Fort Smith on the National Weather Service website Monday detailed a chance of freezing rain before noon that would likely be followed by sleet possibly mixed with freezing rain and some thunder. The day was reported to be cloudy with a high temperature near 33 degrees Fahrenheit. In terms of precipitation, a total accumulation of less than 0.1 of an inch of ice and less than a half inch of sleet were also possible Monday. Monday night's forecast also called for a chance of freezing rain and sleet before 9 p.m.

This is projected to be followed Tuesday by a chances of snow and sleet, the latter of which could be mixed with freezing rain in the afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. Tuesday's forecast called for a possible accumulation of new ice of less than a 0.1 of an inch possible and less than a half inch of new snow and sleet. The day overall is predicted to be cloudy, with a high temperature near 30 degrees Fahrenheit.

The inclement weather led to icy roads throughout Sebastian County. The Sheriff's Office stated via its Facebook page Monday morning multiple vehicle wrecks happened on each of the four bridges leading into the county over the Arkansas River. These include the Midland Boulevard, Interstate 540, Garrison Avenue and Arkansas 59 bridges.

Fort Smith's Police Department similarly reported through its own Facebook page several stalled vehicles and accidents related to the slickness of the roads in the city Monday morning. It urged residents who didn't have to travel to stay home and be safe.

Aric Mitchell, police spokesman, said Monday afternoon he hadn't heard of any injuries or deaths stemming from these incidents. Arkansas State Police responded to five vehicle collisions on Interstate 540 in Fort Smith at around the same time as well.

Philip Pevehouse, spokesman for the Sheriff's Office, said his department responded to three vehicle accidents on Arkansas 255 in the Central City area early Monday morning. However, he wasn't aware of any injuries or deaths.

The Arkansas Department of Transportation's IDrive Arkansas tool reported Interstate 540 from the Oklahoma line to the Arkansas River in Fort Smith, U.S. 71 from Interstate 540 to the Scott County line in Mansfield, Arkansas 549 from U.S. 71 to Arkansas 22, Arkansas 22 from Arkansas 59 in Barling to the Franklin County line in Charleston and Arkansas 10 from the Oklahoma line to the Logan County line as having patches of ice by noon Monday. However, they were mostly clear at that point.

The inclement weather also led to multiple closings in the area Monday. Although Fort Smith kept its offices open, Sebastian County closed all of its offices, according to the county's website.

Terisa Riley, chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, announced the university's campus would be closed all day Monday as well. In a similar vein, the Fort Smith School District pivoted to remote learning and announced the Peak Innovation Center would be closed that day, according to a post on the district's Facebook page.

The Greenwood School District announced it would also move to online instruction Monday. Greenwood closed both its offices and non-emergency departments.


Upcoming Events