The Wayland Fire Department issued a statement around noon Monday that “U.S.-131 northbound from the Wayland exit to at least the Kent Allegan County line is a sheet of ice and the southbound lane is down to a standstill south of the county line due to numerous jackknife semi’s and cars in the ditches.”
The Michigan Department of Transportation reported southbound lanes of the freeway reopened Monday afternoon after they were closed because of a crash. The highway was closed briefly at 146th Avenue in Dorr Township.
Police said these icy conditions, along with folks moving too fast, added to the accident roster across the area. Rollovers, multi-car/multi-vehicle accidents, especially along U.S. 131 and I-196 are all over.
Authorities said once temperatures fall below 17 degrees, salt has little/no melting power… it’s simply too cold. Surfaces must be scraped and perhaps a sand/salt mix applied to combat icy roadways.
Temperatures Monday only got up to 12 to 15 degrees.
Inclement weather postponed a Wayland High School bowling match and caused athletic practices to be limited.
