THE New England highway was closed between Armidale and Guyra yesterday morning after trucks reportedly jack-knifed on the slippery and icy road surface.
Police and Roads and Maritime Services crews were on the scene from the early hours of the morning to divert traffic after snowfall in the area overnight.
People who needed to travel between Armidale and Glen Innes were diverted through Thunderbolts Way and the Gwydir Highway, via Inverell.
The road was reopened at 11am.
Armidale Police Station supervisor Sergeant Chris Pieterse said trucks were unable to pass through the area on Thursday morning and the highway had to remain closed until the ice had thawed.
He said there were reports that up to two trucks had jack-knifed on the highway after losing traction on the slippery road, but details of these accidents were not made available.
“It snowed last night and got colder and about two inches of it turned into ice,” Sergeant Pieterse said yesterday morning.
“It made the road impassable and subsequently the RTA have made detours, except for the trucks, which will be stopped for a while.”
Sergeant Pieterse urged motorists to be mindful of black ice on local roads and to travel with caution.