By Staff

The Winston-Salem Police Department is requesting that all motorists use caution when traveling during their morning commute. There are still some locations with downed power lines and trees as well as some roadways without functioning traffic signals.

The traffic signals along the corridor of Robinhood Road as well as Peters Creek Parkway are without power and not functioning. Motorists are encouraged to take an alternate route.

There is a road closure on W. Clemmonsville Road between Stratford Road and Griffith Road due to a vehicle accident.

Clemmonsville Road will be closed for at least 1-2 hours due to a downed power pole. Motorists should find and take an alternate route.

Whittaker Elementary school is going to operate this morning on emergency power.

Duke Power is reporting thousands of outages north and south of Winston-Salem.

There is a wreck at Reynolda and Coliseum that has traffic backed up.  It is best to avoid the area.

Each year, approximately 36,000 people are treated in hospital emergency departments for injuries from using chain saws. The potential risk of injury increases after hurricanes and other natural disasters, when chain saws are widely used to remove fallen or partially fallen trees and tree branches.  The following are some tips from the CDC for removing fallen trees and branches.

• Operate, adjust, and maintain the saw according to manufacturer’s instructions provided in the manual accompanying the chain saw.
• Properly sharpen chain saw blades and properly lubricate the blade with bar and chain oil. Additionally, the operator should periodically check and adjust the tension of the chain saw blade to ensure good cutting action.
• Choose the proper size of chain saw to match the job, and include safety features such as a chain brake, front and rear hand guards, stop switch, chain catcher and a spark arrester.
• Wear the appropriate protective equipment, including hard hat, safety glasses, hearing protection, heavy work gloves, cut-resistant legwear (chain saw chaps) that extend from the waist to the top of the foot, and boots which cover the ankle.
• Avoid contact with power lines until the lines are verified as being de-energized.
• Always cut at waist level or below to ensure that you maintain secure control over the chain saw.
• Bystanders or coworkers should remain at least 2 tree lengths (at least 150 feet) away from anyone felling a tree and at least 30 feet from anyone operating a chain saw to remove limbs or cut a fallen tree
• If injury occurs, apply direct pressure over site(s) of heavy bleeding; this act may save lives.

Beware of injury from the release of bent trees or branches
Take extra care in cutting “spring poles”: trees or branches that have gotten bent, twisted, hung up on, or caught under another object during a high wind. If the tree or the branch is suddenly released, it may strike the person cutting it, or a bystander, with enough force to cause serious injury or death. Even a seemingly small tree or branch (2 inches in diameter, for example) may pose a hazard when it is released from tension.

To avoid injury:

• Identify the maximum point of tension on the spring pole
• Slowly shave the underside of the tree rather than cut through to allow the tree or branch to release tension slowly
• How the public can help
• It is best to have a chain saw operator who has training and experience in safe chain saw use and cutting techniques to fell and remove limbs from trees.
• Be sure that bystanders are at a safe distance from cutting activities, the chain saw operator uses personal protective equipment, and workers follow safety guidelines.

By Staff

According to the WSPD officers responded to approximately 90 motor vehicle accidents on Sunday, between 7 and 11pm. As a reminder motorists should travel at reduced speeds and allow for additional braking distance. Drivers should avoid rapid acceleration or quick braking.

The Winston-Salem Police Department is requesting that all motorists use caution when traveling during this winter weather storm. Most secondary roadways and some primary roadways are still covered with ice and snow making for hazardous traveling conditions.

A traffic accident occurred in the 800 block of South Stratford Road this morning. All travel lanes of South Stratford Road are closed between Bethesda Road and Stark Street. S. Stratford Road between Executive Park Blvd and Stark Street will be down to one lane.

S. Stratford Road is expected to be closed until later this afternoon due to downed power poles and lines being repaired.

Motorist traveling in this area should expect congestion and delays. Alternate routes should be used around this area until this section of S. Stratford Road is opened.

Motorists that must travel through this area will be able to use Harvey Street from Executive Park Blvd to Ricks Drive, and Bethesda Road to Trenwest Drive as detours around the closed area.

Please use caution in this area and avoid it if at all possible until the road is reopened. CCD will update this story when the WSPD have reopened the road.

UPDATE, 1:10pm:

Authorities have reopened the 800 block of Stratford Road.  Utility crews are still at work and motorists are asked to use caution whil;e traveling through the area.  The area will remain heavily conhested for the early afternoon hours and motorists are encouraged to continue to use alternate routes.  Vehicular traffic will continue to be periodically stopped while utility crews move equipment to restore service.