Annapolis Roads Slow Going; City, Mall Closures (Updates)

Updated at 4:30 p.m.

ANNAPOLIS, MD — The travel ban on Annapolis streets was lifted at 3 p.m. Sunday, but city leaders ask residents to stay off the roads if possible. Drifting has forced crews to focus on emergency routes; no work has been done on secondary roads.

The city downgraded the storm status to a Level 2 Snow Emergency Sunday afternoon, which still bans parking on emergency snow routes. The four Annapolis parking garages remain open, free of charge, to Annapolis residents.

• Noah Hillman Parking Garage – 150 Gorman Street
• Gotts Court Parking Garage – 25 Northwest Street
• Knighton Parking Garage – 1A Colonial Avenue
• Park Place - 5 Park Place

Annapolis Department of Public Works crews have made all of the emergency routes passable and are working to clear the connector routes. Due to the gusty winds and the tremendous amount of snow associated with the recent storm, crews have had to focus on the emergency and connector Routes and have not been able to begin clearing secondary routes.

Crews should start to clear the secondary roads on Tuesday. Check what route your street is located on at http://bit.ly/1RBMvDi.

Cancelations and Notifications:

Annapolis Transit will operate on a Sunday schedule on Monday as Public Works crews continue to clear area streets. The schedule can be viewed at http://bit.ly/1fBqVJ9.

• All refuse and recycling collection is canceled for Monday, January 25.
• Annapolis City government offices will be closed on Monday, January 25.
• The Pip Moyer Recreation Center will be closed on Monday, January 25
• The Annapolis City Council meeting scheduled for Monday, January 25 has been canceled.
• The Annapolis Call Center remains open for all non-emergency calls. Annapolis residents can call 410-260-2211 regarding road conditions or storm-related questions.

Annapolis Shopping:

Westfield Annapolis will remain closed Sunday, January 24. Department store and restaurant hours may vary and officials recommend contacting individual stores for the most up-to-date information. Mall staff will monitor road clearings and travel patterns and post updates at 7 a.m. regarding Monday’s operating hours.

Annapolis Towne Center said on Facebook that some businesses remain closed Sunday morning, with the possibility of opening later in the day. See individual store for hours of operation; call before you go. Target, Mission BBQ, Whole Foods opened, although Whole Food is closing at 4 p.m.); Jimmy John’s planned to open at 2 p.m.

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Anne Arundel Public Schools

A reminder that Anne Arundel County Public Schools students are on semester break on Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 25 and 26. Classes are scheduled to resume for students on Wednesday, Jan. 27.

Because of the storm, all AACPS school and administrative offices will be closed on Monday. A Code Red is in effect for employees.

Unit III personnel will be contacted separately regarding their reporting requirements.

Stay Off the Roads: Police

Road crews face the monumental task of moving more than two feet of snow off streets and highways, with winds pushing drifts back over clear roads in some areas.

Annapolis Police urge residents to stay off the roads Sunday so crews can continue to clear city streets.

“Stay off the roadways as much as possible. Traffic, stuck vehicles and abandoned vehicles hinder the clearing of streets,” police said.

Maryland State Police say while the interstates are now open, troopers report driving statewide is still dangerous. “Urge you to refrain from driving again today,” the department said on Twitter.

State Highway Administration spokesman Charlie Gischlar said people are venturing out onto the roads Sunday, which he called a critical day in clearing highways. “So we ask that citizens curtail non-essential travel,” he said.

Even major roads are still snow-covered and in urban areas snow removal is complicated by crews having to load snow into trucks and haul it away.