I- 44 in Missouri

I-44 is Closed west of Springfield to the OK state line. Trucks are being routed into Springfield and are parked on streets running paralell to I44. Trucks are parked on the interstate near Joplin. This is the first time the Highway Patrol and MoDot have officially closed I-44. It's still snowing lightly and the wind is picking up. I understand I-70 is also closed near Columbia. There's no easy way around this mess on I44 because the secondary roads are as bad if not worse than the interstate. They just can't keep up with the blowing and drifting. They hope to open I44 tomorrow (Feb 2) if the wind dies a little. Be Safe out there.

 

I-44 is now open west of Springfield, however the Okla Tpke remains closed and will probably be closed until Friday. Too many drifts, too much snow. I believe they are routing traffic off at exit 1 on US 160 into Kansas and then down US 69,however the Joplin TV station reports that 160 and 69 are closed in Kansas. Go figure. Probably be best to go down US 71 to I 540 and down to I 40 and head west. Once you get to I40 it should be clear sailing. Be careful on US 71 there are some slick spots, especially the bridges. Just repeating what the news stations say.