State transportation officials are prepared for the year’s second large winter storm and are urging people to get ready now and to stay off the roads once the storm begins unless absolutely necessary.
Snow is expected to fall in central and eastern North Carolina from Tuesday afternoon through early Wednesday morning.
“We’ve been out putting salt brine on roads since the weekend and are completing those operations to get ready for what Mother Nature brings,” said the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Chief Operating Officer Chris Peoples. “People should get any food and supplies they may need now so they don’t have to be on the roads later today, tonight or tomorrow morning unless it’s absolutely necessary.”
NCDOT has trucks that can be equipped with plows and spreaders to remove snow and ice. The agency also has a fleet of motor graders, and facilities for storing tons of salt used to treat roads before, during and after winter storms.
Transportation crews statewide have readied their trucks and equipment and treated interstates, highways and well-traveled secondary roads for any snow and ice the state could receive.
More than 800 NCDOT employees in the eastern half of the state have been pre-treating roads and getting ready for the storm. As of 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, NCDOT crews statewide had placed more than 1.7 million gallons of brine on roads statewide. The saltwater solution lowers the freezing temperature of water to about 18 degrees, helping prevent ice from forming on pavement.
NCDOT crews will be staged to respond once the precipitation begins. They will work around the clock to plow and treat snow and ice until all state-maintained roads are cleared. Crews will also be ready with chainsaws to cut and remove downed trees from roads.
Forecasts show areas west of Interstate 95 could receive ½-inch up to 2 inches of snow and areas east of I-95 getting higher amounts, from 2-8 inches of snow.
As early as the fall, NCDOT crews statewide began preparing for winter weather by testing equipment, performing dry runs and ensuring ample amounts of salt and sand are on hand.
For real-time travel information, please visit www.DriveNC.gov. Check out NCDOT’s website for more information on winter travel tips.
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File photo/Sandhills Sentinel.
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