Forced off highways, motorists descend on motels

Front desk clerks at motels along Interstate 70 say that they’re getting motorists coming in off the highway because they couldn’t make it home.

Marta Martinez, front desk clerk at the American Inn in Blue Springs, said she has been getting a steady stream of calls from people asking for rooms since about 8 this morning.

She is expecting the motel to fill up by early evening.

"One person said they had been staying at another hotel and tried to make a go on the highway this morning. They got to Blue Springs and couldn’t go any further, so they pulled off the road," Martinez said.

Martinez is worried that her relief person won’t make it in and that she will have to stay and work the desk through the night.

“At least I can get a room if I need to,” she said.

Rachael Gandhi, front desk clerk at the Quality Inn off I-70 near Fort Riley in Junction City, Kan, said they have had a few folks checking in today to avoid the treacherous roads.

The Kansas Department of Transportation reported about noon that it was shutting down parts of I-70 IN northwest and north central Kansas.