Freezing drizzle and snow causing hazardous conditions on roads across East Tennessee || Latest Road Conditions

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Snow is creating seriously hazardous conditions on the roadways across East Tennessee. 

Several areas have activated snow plans, which means authorities are closely monitoring calls for service and officers are out in pairs to respond to priority calls. 

►Forecast: Wintry weather moves into the area Friday with road conditions deteriorating 

As of 5:30 p.m., a line of freezing precipitation was icing over some of the roads across the Valley and foothills, including Knoxville. Conditions will become increasingly hazardous and you should avoid driving if at all possible tonight.

Authorities said the interstates and major routes are covered with snow as of Friday afternoon, asking people to stay off the roads right now or drive slowly if they have to be out. Several crashes have been reported across the area due to snow, including on I-40.

Tennessee Emergency Management Agency officials said Friday afternoon that the state remained under a Level 3 state emergency for snow, which means a serious emergency is occurring with rapidly deteriorating conditions. TDOT crews are fully activated and plowing interstates and state routes. 

TDOT said snow was falling much faster Friday afternoon in East Tennessee and said it needed people to stay off the roads so they could quickly clear them.

TEMA said several crashes had happened across the state, including a commercial vehicle that had rear-ended a salt truck. 

TEMA said people should expect road conditions to remain bad through the rest of the night. Temperatures are expected to rise above freezing during the day this weekend, but that will create the risk of snow melt refreezing and turning to ice on the roads, particularly roads with a lot of trees and shade, and rural back roads.   

Snow had accumulated on Interstate 40 across East Tennessee, which has created dangerous driving conditions. 

After a break in the snow Friday afternoon, state plows and salt trucks were able to clear and treat much of I-40 in the Knoxville area. There are still slick spots, but most of the interstate lanes appeared to have been plowed as of 4:45 p.m.

At 5 p.m., crews responded to a flipped vehicle off I-40 at Watt Road in West Knox County near the I-75 split.

Crews also responded to a stalled semi-truck on I-40 around the same time at Gallaher View Road in West Knoxville. 

Another crash was reported on I-40 West at Asheville Highway, blocking the right shoulder.

At 2:50 p.m., crews responded to a crash on I-40 West in West Knoxville near Gallaher View Road and West Hills. The crash was cleared within an hour.

A jack-knifed semi-truck was blocking traffic on the westbound side of I-40 in Knoxville at the Hall of Fame Drive exit. THP said all lanes were back open by 3:45 p.m.

Around 2:38 p.m., a multi-vehicle crash was reported on I-40 East between Lovell Road and Pellissippi Parkway, closing three lanes. TDOT said the crash was cleared by 3:45 p.m.

At around 10 p.m. crews also responded to a single-vehicle crash involving a semi-truck that closed a westbound lane.

RELATED: Driving instructor shares tips to safely drive in the snow

“We would advise caution if you are out traveling today,” THP Cookeville said.

THP said people can dial *847 if they need assistance from troopers.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation told people across the state to stay off the roads once the snow began to fall. 

TDOT reported extremely hazardous conditions across all of I-75 from Campbell County to Chattanooga earlier Friday afternoon, but as of late Friday afternoon I-75 was looking a little better after TDOT crews were able to plow and treat the interstate.

A disabled vehicle was reported near the Callahan Drive exit at around 3:51 p.m., which closed a northbound lane. It appeared to be cleared from the road at 4:10 p.m.

TDOT also reported a disabled vehicle blocking a northbound lane at around 6 p.m. before the exit to Highway 321.

The transportation department also reported an overturned vehicle that closed southbound lanes near the Paul Huff Parkway exit toward Cleveland at around 6:19 p.m.

TDOT also said a single-vehicle crash closed southbound lanes in McMinn County at around 6:17 p.m., near the exit to Lamontville Road.

As of 4:01 p.m., TDOT reported a jack-knifed semi-truck on I-640 East, north of Western Avenue. As of 4:45 p.m., the truck was pulled out of the center lane and not blocking traffic, but traffic issues were still present on I-640.

TDOT also reported a single-vehicle crash on the road at around 3:54 p.m., blocking a westbound lane.

People are not advised to travel if they do not need to.

KPD said city crews were treating the Level 1 and Level 2 roads, which are the most heavily-traveled roads in the city. It said there were still impacts as it monitored calls for service, saying roads like Papermill Drive were seeing some issues.   

KPD said roads were covered in snow, and officers responded to a few crashes across the city due to slick roads.

KAT is operating on snow routes. You can find the snow routes at this link.

THP said Oak Ridge Highway/State Route 62 was closed around 1:20 p.m. near Cherokee Caverns due to a crash with injuries. As of 4:04 p.m., it has reopened.

In West Knox County, Pellissippi Parkway was snow-covered and travel was slow-going. 

KPD has been responding to disabled vehicles and tagging the ones they’ve responded to with orange streamers. Police said not to call 911 about abandoned vehicles they have already marked.

As of 4 p.m., Anderson County deputies said road conditions had badly deteriorated and asked people to stay off the roads. The county is under an emergency snow plan.

Loudon County activated its Emergency Snow plan due to deteriorating road conditions, meaning it is prioritizing emergency calls.

“We will continue to respond to emergency calls, including accidents involving injuries. However, we will temporarily suspend responses to non-emergency calls, including accidents without injuries,” LCSO said.

Tellico Parkway/Highway 444 was shut down at Saddle Dam in Loudon County due to a wreck with an injury. TDOT said the road was back open by 3:50 p.m.

“Due to the snow and icy conditions, it is currently unknown how long the closure will be in place. If you must drive, please slow down, allow for additional travel time, and seek alternate routes,” Loudon County Sheriff’s Office said.

Sevier County officials said many roads in the county had deteriorated and were not safe for travel. It implemented its Emergency Response Plan and said it would not be responding non-emergency calls until conditions improved.

Roads across Jefferson County became hazardous as the afternoon went on.

The New Market Volunteer Fire Department said it responded to a crash on Highway 25/70 after a vehicle flipped and went into the trees.  

“Please be careful on the roads and move over for emergency vehicles. If you don’t have to get out don’t get out. For the safety of you and the first responders,” the VFD said.

Patches of snow were reported along State Route 33 from Claiborne County to Knox County.

State Route 170 was snow-covered in both directions. Caution was advised if you plan on driving down the road.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation said a multi-vehicle crash was reported on I-40 West at around 2:52 p.m., blocking at least one lane. It was reported near the Gallaher Road exit. The crash was cleared by 4:15 p.m.

It also said that a single-vehicle crash closed an eastbound lane of I-40 at around 6:53 p.m., near Rockwood Airport Road.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol warned that I-75 in Campbell County was covered with snow near Mile Marker 152 and said people should only travel in the area if they absolutely need to.

Later Friday night, at around 9:40 p.m., TDOT said a tractor-trailer jackknifed on I-75 South, near Mile Marker 135. A spokesperson said the vehicle would be recovered after the winter storm passes. The Tennessee Highway Patrol said no injuries were reported and no lanes are blocked by the vehicle.

We’ll keep this article updated throughout the day with the major road closures.