© 2024 Maine Public | Registered 501(c)(3) EIN: 22-3171529
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Scroll down to see all available streams.

Even With Rising Temperatures, Black Ice Is A Problem For Maine Drivers

It's been a challenging day for Maine drivers across the state.

Public Safety spokesperson Steve McCausland says even though air temperatures have been high, the ground remains cold, which has caused the rain to freeze quickly, catching drivers by surprise.

“We had a problem on one of the Waterville bridges today where it turned to black ice,” he says. “A woman overturned literally in the middle of the bridge and, fortunately, her injuries were not severe.”

Several crashes have been reported late Thursday afternoon on the Maine Turnpike.

McCausland says icy roads could also be an issue for the evening commute.

State Transportation spokesperson Ted Talbot says crews are working to cut back snow banks to prevent water from pooling on roadways before it freezes.

“We really want the flowing where it should be flowing,” he says. “In ditches, in the culverts, into the gutters in the municipalities. You know snow banks, snow itself does act as a barrier.”

Talbot says road patrols will also be out overnight looking for black ice.

Ed is a Maine native who spent his early childhood in Livermore Falls before moving to Farmington. He graduated from Mount Blue High School in 1970 before going to the University of Maine at Orono where he received his BA in speech in 1974 with a broadcast concentration. It was during that time that he first became involved with public broadcasting. He served as an intern for what was then called MPBN TV and also did volunteer work for MPBN Radio.