Minnesota weather: Icy roads due to freezing rain; Metro Transit resumes service

Icy roads create disastrous driving condition in Twin Cites metro

It was a slippery morning commute for drivers in the Twin Cities as freezing rain created difficult travel conditions.

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Road conditions were in rough shape Wednesday morning because of overnight and early morning freezing rain.

Any surface that was untreated or hadn't been treated recently was very icy, especially sidewalks, parking lots and residential streets/side streets.

The conditions were so bad, Metro Transit and the Minnesota Valley Transportation Authority (MVTA) suspended bus service until it was safe to resume operating.

By 8 a.m., Metro Transit had resumed Rapid Transit bus service but regular bus service was still suspended. However, by 8:30 a.m., Metro Transit said it was in the process of "gradually releasing buses from the garages to restore all bus service" and by 9:45 a.m. all bus service had resumed. MVTA resumed service before 11 a.m.

Icy Minnesota roads: Vehicles slipping, sliding all over

A compilation of traffic camera footage showing vehicles slipping and sliding all over Wednesday morning after freezing rain left roadways icy.

Roads in the Twin Cities were very slick, with multiple ramps closed, numerous jackknifed semi-trucks and spinouts reported on major roadways. MnDOT is reporting most roads in the Twin Cities metro and the southern half of the state were covered or partially covered in ice Wednesday morning. But conditions had greatly improved by the afternoon.

The Minnesota State Patrol reported that between 9:30 p.m. Tuesday and 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, there were 120 crashes (10 involving injuries), as well as 116 spin-outs. Additionally, authorities reported 19 jack-knifed semis. No fatalities have been reported.

Metro Transit explains decision to pull buses from icy roadways

Brian Funk with Metro Transit speaks with FOX 9 to explain what led to the decision to suspend bus service Wednesday morning.

Between 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, State Patrol reported an additional 82 crashes (17 with injury) and 85 vehicle spin-outs, but still no fatalities.

Meanwhile, numerous schools were closed or delayed on Wednesday due to icy conditions on area roadways.

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