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Sharks & Stingrays From The Keys Avoid Ice & Snow

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – While drivers all over Atlanta were stranded by this week's ice and snow storm, a batch of sharks and stingrays from the Florida Keys were re-routed around the mess to eventually be delivered to a North Carolina aquarium.

The specialized truck with life-support systems was scheduled to make a cross-country trek from to a new aquarium opening next month in Concord, N.C.

Pollyanna Falk of Spark Strategic Ideas said the Sea Life aquarium had planned to introduce the animals at a media event Thursday, but that was postponed due to the ice and snow storm.

She said the delivery company heeded warnings about treacherous road conditions in Georgia Wednesday and the trip was postponed.

Falk doesn't believe the truck made it to Georgia, so it was never stuck in metro Atlanta's epic traffic jam that began Tuesday afternoon and stretched into Wednesday.

"Apparently the truck was still in Florida when he had heard about all the delays in Atlanta so he didn't want to get stuck in the icy conditions," Falk said.

Falk said the animals would still be delivered when roads conditions improved, and the delays won't affect the aquarium's scheduled opening.

The $10 million Sea Life aquarium is set to open Feb. 20 at Concord Mills, a large shopping complex in the northeast suburbs of Charlotte, N.C.

(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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