North Carolina residents are being advised by state transportation officials to stay off the roads during an incoming winter storm, warning that travel could quickly turn hazardous. According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), the storm is expected to begin today and continue to pelt the state with snow, ice, and freezing rain tomorrow morning. "Travel could be treacherous across much of the state through the weekend," NCDOT's Secretary Joey Hopkins stated, advocating to avoid non-essential travel to allow crews the necessary time to clear the roads.
The mountains and foothills, along with central North Carolina north of Interstate 85, are predicted to be hardest hit by the winter conditions. To prepare, NCDOT has been working around the clock to ensure that the roadways are treated before the worst of the weather sets in. The agency's employees are strategically trying to pre-treat roads with brine, a saltwater solution that helps prevent the formation of ice by lowering the freezing point of water. The NCDOT crew has already distributed more than 633,000 gallons of brine on state roads.
For this winter season, NCDOT is deploying over 1,100 employees who will be ready to respond once the storm hits. With 2,000 trucks equipped for snow and ice removal and 238 motor graders at their disposal, the agency is taking significant measures to mitigate the storm's impact. The storage facilities across the state are well stocked, with the capability to store up to 9,577 tons of salt and sand, and approximately 1.9 million gallons of brine.
Additional measures have been put in place by NCDOT, including staging some trucks and equipment along known problem areas where ice and snow accumulation is common. Chainsaw-wielding crews are also on standby to quickly deal with any downed trees. "We encourage non-essential travel to be limited to allow crews time to safely clear roads," Hopkins emphasized in the statement, reinforcing the importance of safety for residents and efficiency for the teams working to manage the storm's aftermath.
With severe weather on the horizon, NCDOT has been proactively preparing since the fall. They've conducted equipment tests, performed simulations, and ensured that adequate supplies of salt and sand were in place well in advance. Once the precipitation begins, the crews are prepped to swiftly plow and treat the snow and ice-covered roads, intending to work tirelessly in 12-hour shifts until all state-maintained roads are cleared and safe for travel once more.
