UPDATED (4:17 p.m.) - The closure area on Interstate 55 has been moved north to Exit 243 in Batesville.
Interstate 55 was shut down Wednesday afternoon after Winter Storm Fern coated north Mississippi in ice and snow, with northbound lanes closed from Exit 206 in Grenada to Exit 265 in Senatobia beginning at 1 p.m., state transportation officials said.
Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) confirmed Wednesday morning that extreme icing north of Grenada on I 55 rendered the roadway unsafe, prompting DOT crews and the Mississippi Highway Patrol to stop all northbound traffic between Grenada and Senatobia. The closure was expected to remain in place until crews could treat and clear the route. Some reports have said the closure will last for two hours, however, an exact time frame has not been released.
With the closure, traffic in the City of Grenada will become even more congested with motorists, including 18-wheelers, detouring through the area as well as using the off and on ramps at Exit 206 to re-route.
The state urged motorists to avoid non-essential travel on I 55 in northern Mississippi and to allow extra time if movement was essential. East west crossings such as Highway 8 and Highway 32 tended to be less icy Wednesday morning, with locals being advised via social media and radio to use those roads instead of the stalled interstate whenever possible.
Winter Storm Fern had already coated Grenada County in a dangerous layer of ice early in the week, with local officials warning residents to stay off roads and to keep phones charged in case of power loss. Emergency services in Grenada and nearby towns reported responding to spin offs and slide offs on county roads and on ramps to I 55, as drivers attempted to navigate the storm despite repeated advisories.
MDOT said Wednesday its priority was clearing bridges and elevated roadways first, then wide shoulder interstates, before declaring stretches of I 55 safe for regular traffic. Local officials expected the 55 shut down to ease by late afternoon or early evening, depending on how quickly temperatures and crews improved traction.
