With a second round of winter weather likely starting Friday, North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) officials are urging people to prepare now so they’re ready to stay off North Carolina roads once the storm arrives.
“Our crews have been working around the clock this week clearing roads, and we’re now turning our attention back to preparations for more winter weather,” said State Transportation Secretary Daniel Johnson. “We appreciated everyone doing their best to keep off the roads last weekend, and we need that same focus again with this storm.”
NCDOT has cleared most roads from last weekend’s winter storm as crews have shifted their focus to this second round of winter weather. Much of their efforts to clear interstates, highways and other well-traveled roads was completed by the middle of the week so they could regroup before the next weather system arrives.
Crews started earlier this week restocking salt supplies in anticipation of this second winter blast.
On Wednesday, crews across the state started pre-treating roads with brine. As of Thursday, crews had placed more than 970,000 gallons of brine on North Carolina roads. The saltwater solution lowers the freezing temperature of water to about 18 degrees and helps prevent ice from forming on pavement.
More than 1,100 NCDOT employees and contractors will continue Friday treating interstates, highways and other well-traveled secondary roads before the second storm arrives. The state agency has over 1,250 dump trucks that can be equipped with plows and spreaders to remove snow and ice, and 913 contract trucks. The agency also has 217 motor graders and more than 150,000 tons of salt ready to treat roads.
NCDOT crews and contract resources will rest and then be ready to salt and plow roads when the snow and ice arrives. They will continue their work through the weekend until state-maintained roads are clear.
When the storm hits, road conditions could quickly deteriorate and remain dangerous as the bitter cold temperatures expected through the weekend will cause any snow and ice that melts during the day to refreeze overnight.
“We always hope for the best but plan for the worst,” Johnson said. “So while there’s always uncertainty when forecasting these types of events, I urge everyone to get prepared so you’re ready and can stay put and enjoy the snow where you’re at.”
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