Blowing and drifting snow forces road closures; icy pavement causes overturns, multiple accidents around Riverhead

Updated: 9 p.m. 

Riverhead Police Chief David Hegermiller issued the following statement to the media at 8:18 p.m.:

“Travel conditions on Sound Avenue and Reeves Avenue has become treacherous due to wind conditions. Drifting snow has shut down Sound Avenue east of Horton Avenue to Roanoke Avenue and has caused black ice conditions on other portions of these roadways. Reeves Avenue as well as any roads adjacent to open fields are subject to drifting. Travel on these roads is not recommended. If you must leave your home or business use main arteries such as State or County roads, use extreme caution and reduce your driving speed. Highway workers are responding to these areas. For emergencies call the Riverhead Police Department by dialing 911 or 727-4500.”

Riverhead Highway Department crews worked to fight drifting snow on Sound Avenue and other town road surrounded by open fields all day today, Highway Superintendent George Woodson said. Trucks were out sanding and salting all day, as well.

“I sent the guys home to get some rest at 3, to come back in at 7,” Woodson said in an interview tonight. “The winds are supposed to die down later and they needed some sleep.”  Woodson said crews had been working since 2 a.m. Saturday and he was also mindful of the next storm in the forecast which will make for another long night tomorrow. A winter storm watch is in effect for snow, sleet and freezing rain Sunday night into Monday, according to the National Weather Service.

“My guys are not robots. They need some rest. It’s been a very rough week,” Woodson said.

Original story:

High winds and blowing snow are wreaking havoc on local roads this morning.

Wind gusts in excess of 25 mph are creating drifts that have rendered several roads impassable in some spots and even forced the closure of entire roads, Riverhead Highway Superintendent George Woodson said.

Icy pavement caused multiple accidents last night and early this morning, with at least four rollover crashes: two on Sound Avenue last night on the east end of town and two on Route 25 before dawn this morning on the west end of town.

The following town roads are closed this morning, with crews working to get them open:

•  Peconic Bay Boulevard, between South Jamesport Avenue and Laurel Lane;
•  River Road behind the former Grumman facility, from Edwards Avenue to Old River Road;
•  Reeves Avenue, entire length — from Roanoke Avenue to Doctors Path;
•  Hulse Landing Road between Sound Avenue and Route 25A.

All north-south roads will be affected by blowing and drifting snow, as will sections of Sound Avenue adjacent to open fields, Woodson said.

Yesterday’s melting snow left roadways wet and that created icy conditions when temperatures plummeted last night, with overnight lows dipping into the single digits.

Highway department crews were out salting and sanding last night and pushing back drifts and they’ve been out in full force since 5 this morning, Woodson said.

“Unfortunately, you can’t beat Mother Nature. You can only hope to keep up with her,” he said.

The highway chief asked residents to stay off the roads if at all possible early today and to use common sense and extra caution if they must venture out.

“And slow down,” Woodson said. “Can you maybe put that in capital letters?”

To repeat: SLOW DOWN.