Weather
Mississippi Winter Thanksgiving Travel: Even Salted I-55 Can Freeze
Jackson, MS – Mississippi drivers preparing to travel Interstate 55, Interstate 20 and Interstate 22 this Thanksgiving may be counting on road treatments to protect them if freezing weather develops.
By Marcus Hale · 2026-11-11T19:16:52.879Z
Jackson, MS – Mississippi drivers preparing to travel Interstate 55, Interstate 20 and Interstate 22 this Thanksgiving may be counting on road treatments to protect them if freezing weather develops. But there's a dangerous misconception about winter driving: Even freshly treated highways can become icy, particularly on bridges and elevated roadways where freezing conditions can develop before surrounding pavement becomes slick.
According to winter maintenance guidance from transportation agencies, traditional road salt becomes increasingly less effective as pavement temperatures approach 20 degrees Fahrenheit, with its ice melting ability declining further as temperatures fall into the teens and single digits.
And in Mississippi, where freezing rain can create hazardous roads without significant snowfall, that distinction matters.
Why Even Treated Mississippi Highways Can Freeze Road salt isn't magic. It lowers water's freezing point, helping melt ice and reduce freezing under suitable conditions.
However, as pavement temperatures fall, the melting process slows considerably. Around 20 degrees, conventional salt works much more slowly than it does near freezing. Below 15 degrees, salt alone may struggle to melt ice quickly enough to improve traction.
For motorists traveling through Jackson in Hinds County, Southaven in DeSoto County, Hattiesburg in Forrest County and Tupelo in Lee County, that limitation is worth understanding.
Major routes including I 55, I 20, I 22, I 59 and I 10 can become slippery during freezing weather, particularly on bridges, overpasses, elevated ramps and shaded stretches.
Thanksgiving Travel Could Increase the Stakes Thanksgiving falls Thursday, Nov. 26, bringing holiday travelers onto Mississippi's major interstate corridors connecting Jackson, the Memphis metropolitan area, Hattiesburg and the Gulf Coast.
If freezing rain, sleet or rapidly falling temperatures develop during the holiday travel period, even treated highways could become dangerously slick.
Bridges and overpasses deserve particular attention because they can cool faster than surrounding pavement, allowing ice to form while nearby roads remain wet.
The Mississippi Department of Transportation monitors winter weather conditions and coordinates roadway treatment and response efforts, but no treatment guarantees ice free pavement.
Before departing, drivers should check National Weather Service forecasts and MDOTtraffic for updated highway conditions, traffic cameras and travel alerts.
The bottom line: A treated interstate is not necessarily a safe interstate. Motorists should reduce speed, increase following distances and remain especially cautious on bridges and elevated ramps whenever freezing weather develops.