Local News

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Getting around the Chicago area on Monday is proving to be a bit of a challenge as December blew in with a snowy blast. Travel has been tricky on some roads, and for flyers trying to get in and out of Chicago airports.

As CBS 2's Kristyn Hartman reports, an IDOT spokesperson says the interstate is clear but that doesn't mean there aren't icy spots on the expressways. The Illinois state police say they are handling multiple crashes on I-57 and I-94. IDOT's snow plows and salt trucks – all 350 of them – will be out tending to troubled spots until at least 7 p.m.

After many months off, Don Osborn's old reliable snow blower is back in business.

"It's a normal course of winter time - gotta deal with it," Osborn said.

Fall is officially on ice. More proof: the plows were out in Park Ridge for the first measurable snow fall of the season.

At O'Hare Airport, signs proclaim it's a great day to be flying but Traci West says really it's not.

"I was supposed to be home at 9 last night and I was re-booking my tickets at 2 a.m.," West said.

West was re-ticketed with 5-month-old Maddox in tow.

Now weather is preventing the two of them from getting back to Dayton until 9:30 p.m. and they're not alone.

O'Hare has had dozens of cancellations, and delays pepper the boards.

Weather and mechanical issues in Peoria mean Al Dremann missed his plane from Chicago to Shanghai.

"Tomorrow at 10:30 is when my plane pulls out, I'm expecting to be on it," Dremann said.

His spirits are good, but airport musician Patrick Taylor says "it seems like people are a little moody today."

It's why Taylor plays his flute. He hopes it makes weather-weary travelers smile.

There are still cancellations at Chicago airports - 75 at O'Hare and one at Midway so make travel plans accordingly.

As CBS 2's Joanie Lum reported earlier Monday, during the morning rush, traffic on the expressways seemed to be moving, but drivers were trying to be cautious of each other.

"Every time you get on the road, it's a trust thing," said trucker Tim Jackson. "You're trusting everyone to stay in their lane and do what's right, but that doesn't mean everybody's going to do that."

Jackson started his morning in Gary, Ind., and stopped at the Des Plaines Oasis.

"Just having to be; have your mind turned on as far as the winter driving conditions," Jackson said. "The signs are saying, 'Slow down, don't tailgate.' There was one person had spun out when I first got on at Grant Street, but that's the only spinout I had seen."

The snow created beautiful scenes in Des Plaines, but they weren't so beautiful once residents walked outside. It took Trinidad Baldez an hour to shovel his driveway and sidewalks and to clear the snow off several cars. He says it's good exercise.

But when asked if he was ready for the weather, Baldez said, "Not really."

Traffic and pedestrians alike moved slowly throughout the northwest suburbs. School kids shivered as they waited for the school bus.

Many motorists said the first major snowstorm of the season is just not fun.

"It was bad. I had to drop my kids at school; had to clean the car. It was, like, all icy, and it was bad," said Ruchi Nagayach.

"It was very disappointing because I know there's just more to come, and I had to get up early to dust off my car, and my gloves are still wet," said Eleni Markos. "It's awful."

The city's side streets may be especially challenging, since most are untouched.

CBS 2's Mike Parker says the city's South Side has escaped the worst snow, and Interstate 57 has been moving well near Halsted Street. But in southwest suburban Plainfield, snow was heavier than in the city and driving conditions were treacherous. A serious accident happened along Wallin Drive in Plainfield, although it was unclear if anyone was injured.

In another accident on I-57 near 147th Street, a car spun out on the roadway, slammed into the center divider, and ended up blocking traffic. It appeared nobody was hurt.

Jimmy Terrile was out at I-57 and Halsted peddling his papers.

"It ain't too bad out here; I dressed warm," Terrile said, adding that he had only a few layers so as not to get overheated. "Once it starts getting light out, I start running around out here like a crazy man, trying to sell papers."

In addition, the city's overnight parking ban, which goes into effect Monday morning and usually catches some residents off guard because of the absence of snow, may not seem as confusing as usual, given that this Dec. 1, there will likely be snow on the ground.

The city's overnight parking ban on 107 miles of streets goes back into effect at 3 a.m. Monday.

Motorists should also pay attention to the 2-inch snow restrictions that are technically in effect all year round, but realistically are only a factor during the winter months.

The ban is in effect from 3 a.m. to 7 a.m. regardless of snow, and the city's enforcement of the ban will begin at 3 a.m. Monday, whether or not there is snow on the streets.

In spite of warnings of the winter parking ban, 165 people still violated the ban and were towed. That's more than the 149 violators on the first night of the ban last winter.

CBS 2's Joanie Lum, Mike Parker, Kristyn Hartman and Ed Curran, the Associated Press and the STNG Wire contributed to this report.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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