This happened to me recently: they closed the whole street and I had to go around to another street where the ascent is over 15% (I'm not exaggerating) and it's cobbled. I ride mt bike so I switched to the lowest gears and I still panted at the top.
Today the sidewalk near my home was frozen and I was happy that I rode my husband's bike with 2,35 inches Maxxis Minion tires (they are for downhill): I didn't push the brakes and I didn't slip, I felt secure even on the ice.
My route to work is about 2 miles but on the way back I chose to ride some more so I went out of town, climed our plateau: about 10 miles. The downhill was cold and windy but I had to go back