Snowed-in in Sidney; storm closes I-80

The snowstorm brought more than large flakes to Sidney yesterday; it brought stranded truck drivers from all over the states and a few from Canada after I-80 was shut down by state officials.

Some drivers were trying to make their way to unload or pick up in time to be home for Christmas, others were fortunate enough to have their loved one with them as they traveled.

So many trucks were forced to stop off and stay by the I-80 interchange that it became a race to see who could find a place to part those big rigs for the night and into today.

Martin, on his way to San Francisco, CA to pick up, said he has been stranded in Sidney since, “last night (Wednesday) at 11 p.m.”

“There was a sign just at the entrance to Nebraska saying highway 80 shut down in Big Springs,” he explained. “So when I took the CB to ask some questions, they (other drivers) said you could go to the truck stop at the 107 exit but you take the chance it is full already. So I took the opportunity to stop here in Sidney.

“I was lucky because there were only a couple spots left to park.”

However, he could have been mislead from his parking spot by a prankster who occupied his time by, “some guy took his CB and said okay the highway is open so two or three trucks left to take a chance and another truck took their spot.”

Martin said from what he had heard so far he may be stranded in Sidney until the lunch hour or even later, “depending on how its going to go, the weather was not looking too nice and the wind is catching up more stronger.”

The forced pit stop, Martin said, has put him far behind his schedule, but more over, has put a damper on his Christmas plans.

He said he will no longer be able to make the stop at home for the holidays before having to drop off his load.

Jeff from New Mexixo was headed to Minnesota to pick up until he was forced to stay overnight in Wal-Mart’s parking lot since about 10 p.m. on Wednesday.

To pass the time he said he had been “straightening up, doing paper work; little pittly things.”

Having to stop off for the night has put Jeff behind by a day he said. “They say it shouldn’t be a problem. I’ll find out come Friday.”

However, even though his company understands the weather delay he will not be able to make it home for Christmas now, “but it’s part of the job,” he said.

Thanks to modern technology, Jeff said he has been able to speak to his wife back home who told him they too were receiving snow.

He’d rather not be stuck and being put behind schedule but looking on the brighter side of the issue he said, “but this is a pretty good place to be at.”

At this time, officials are not 100 percent sure when the Interstate will be re-opened, but said despite the closing everything has run smoothly.