Several crashes across Kansas City metro close roads, create delays as snow storm hits
A section of Interstate 70 was shut down east of Kansas City as the latest winter storm dropped snow across the metro early Wednesday morning.
All eastbound I-70 lanes in Grain Valley, about 20 miles east of downtown Kansas City in Jackson County, were blocked because of multiple crashes involving semi trucks, the Missouri State Highway Patrol wrote on Twitter at about 6:30 a.m. All lanes remained closed as of 7 a.m.
Drivers were urged to take an alternate route and to avoid the area.
A winter storm warning was initiated in Kansas City late Tuesday and is set to continue through 6 p.m. Thursday, making travel difficult, according to the National Weather Service.
At about 6 a.m. Wednesday, most roads across the metro were completely snow-covered, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation.
“If you’re looking out the window wondering how bad the roads ‘really’ are…take it from us…BAD!,” Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop A out of Lee’s Summit wrote on Twitter. “We’re running from call to call and have been for a few hours.”
Another multi-vehicle crash had at least two lanes of northbound Interstate 49 closed at Blue Ridge Boulevard, the department of transportation wrote on Twitter at about 7 a.m.
Other crashes were reported around the metro earlier in the day, including a two-vehicle crash on southbound 169 Highway near the edge of the Buck O’Neil Bridge on 5th Street in Kansas City. The crash caused some delays, according to the department of transportation.
A short time earlier, a crash was also reported on southbound Interstate 49 just past 155th Street in Cass County. At about 6:30, traffic was re-opened to one lane and moving slowly.
Officials are urging people to stay home and off the roads, if possible as the winter storm continues.
This story was originally published February 2, 2022 at 7:13 AM.
