From the roads to the air, the Northeast on Tuesday had an impact on anyone who had to move.
Bradly International Airport had canceled 40 percent of its flights as of 4:30 p.m., while more than 600 Department of Transportation crews work to clear highways across the state.
Some travelers at the airport felt the double shock, dealing with flight delays and slippery roads.
“It was absolutely silent on the way here, I think we had a car that was on the road with us,” said Dave Amick, of Anchorage, Alaska.
For two groups at the Bradley airport, a long travel day began with a snowy drive from Massachusetts to Connecticut.
“Driving, it got worse and worse,” said Elizabeth Santos, of Northampton, Massachusetts.
Amick is optimistic that his flight will take the family back to Alaska.
“So far, ours is scheduled to take us home. So we’re crossing our fingers!” he said. “We hope to avoid hotels, just get on the plane and take our flights home.”
On the other hand, Santos is eager to head for sunnier skies in Orlando, Florida, but spent the afternoon dealing with flight delays.
“I’m ready to book again until tomorrow, but he said no, let’s wait and see what happens,” she said. “At this point, we thought about what we are going to do. I’d better stay here.
Airport officials say crews have been working on snow removal since early morning and the airport has remained open throughout the day. As of 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, 40 percent of flights were canceled as airlines adjusted their schedules in response to the storm.
“We are encouraging passengers to really stay in close contact with the airlines on their respective flights,” said Alisa Sisic, PIO of the Connecticut Airport Authority. “Even if you don’t see snow at home, you still need to check in with your airline to confirm your flight is on time.”
For those traveling by car, road conditions vary throughout the state.
“We have everything from inches and inches of snow to wet roads on the coast. So there’s a plethora of different road conditions everywhere,” said Sgt. Christine Jeltema of the Connecticut State Police.
From midnight to 4:30 pm, Connecticut State Police responded to 98 weather-related crashes with no reported injuries and another 10 with non-serious injuries. No fatalities or serious injuries are reported.
State Police have responded to 153 traffic incidents, including damaged vehicles and spins. This morning in Enfield, they helped vehicles stuck in the snow.
“Road conditions can change suddenly,” said Sgt. Jeltema said.
Early Tuesday, Gov. Ned Lamont issued a ban on tandem tractor trailers and empty trailers on I-84, but lifted the ban at 3:30 p.m.
As of Tuesday afternoon, there were 621 trucks clearing state highways, including 606 crews from CTDOT and 15 other private contractors in the Northwestern foothills.
“We’ve also seen some trees down on the roads, downed power lines,” said Shannon Burnham, as a spokeswoman for the Department of Transportation. “We couldn’t treat the roads, because the rain would have washed them away. But crews have been out from early this morning until last night, clearing the roads, making sure we can see the blacktop, and tackling areas of the state that have seen a significant amount of snow.”
Some New Englanders were still ready to venture out.
“My car was covered in snow!” said Mackenzie Thompson, of Windsor Locks. “I didn’t have a brush, so I just heated it up and then cleaned it with a bag.”
Others are coming to terms with the weather, like a rideshare driver who planned to be out for 10 hours all day.
“Winter is winter!” Osman Odabas said. “Right now specifically, it’s good for us, because a lot of drivers know they’re scared and don’t want to drive.”
DOT also reminds drivers to stay at least 300 feet away from road-clearing crews to give them room to work. They say drivers should be careful as temperatures drop overnight and there is a greater chance that roads will freeze.