Travelers cope with early winter storm

If you were out on the roads at all Friday, the impact of the snow was clear, but not all travelers faced delays.

Shoveling, snow blowing and plowing were some of the sights and sounds many around the region woke up to Friday morning.

"I'm getting ready to go to work," said Margaret Skinner. The South Burlington resident, like many people, started her day cleaning off her car. "It's a little snowier than I expected. It's a little early this year."

The second snowstorm this week -- the most significant snowfall so far this season -- created some sloppy driving conditions.

"Definitely slick out there," said Laruen Robillard of Colchester.

"It was definitely really slippery and not so good," said Brittany Southwick of Underhill.

VTrans officials said plows were out all night and into the day making sure the roads were safe for commuters, but snow-covered roads caused accidents across the region.

A tractor-trailer jack-knifed on I-89 northbound in Hartford and a car off the road near I-89 exit 13 were just a few.

It was a very different story at the airport, which experienced only minor delays because of the weather.

"Feel awesome. Glad we didn't have any delays said Dorothy Crum of South Carolina.

Anna Brown was traveling home to Virginia for Thanksgiving and was surprised that everything was running smoothly. "Two hours early -- I thought it was going to be a lot busier," she said.

Skinner eventually got her car cleaned off and made it to work with a reminder for other drivers on the road this season. "They should drive slow and respect the other drivers," she said.

TIMING OF STORM GOOD FOR PLOW CREWS

The timing of this storm was good for the city of South Burlington.

The city's public works director, Justin Rabidoux, says that because the snow started around 3 a.m., they were able to have their plow drivers come in then and get the roads relatively clear before the commute began. They say also having many schools canceled helped keep some traffic off the roads, which allowed them to get more work done.

"It was also a light snow and so it took really well to salt, as well as to pushing. So all in all, for the first storm of the season, we're really happy with the way things have worked so far," Rabidoux said.

The rest of the day they'll be cleaning up. And the sidewalk plows will be in this weekend to finish up the job.

One thing the storm didn't help with is construction. A couple of paving projects have been delayed.