Winter Storm Helena is on her way and the Georgia Department of Transportation is getting ready. Maintenance crews will begin pre-treating roadways Friday at 6 a.m.
Twelve brine tanks loaded with a total of 69,000 gallons of the salt water solution will spray interstates and state routes in areas expected to be hit by the storm.
Northeast District spokesperson Katie Strickland says crews are preparing for potentially heavy snowfall – possibly up to 1 inch an hour. Once the snow and ice begin falling, crews will switch from the brine application to snow plows and salt and gravel spreaders.
“We will be monitoring the weather and have crews mobilized and ready to clear the road of any snow or ice that may fall overnight Friday into Saturday morning,” says Strickland. “Getting the roads cleared prior to potential re-freeze on Saturday is also a priority.”
State transportation officials urge drivers in storm warning areas to prepare their vehicles for winter weather. They also urge drivers to stay off the roads if at all possible once the storm hits.
The GDOT office in Gainesville serves 21 counties and has the following resources available to respond to the winter storm:
- 135 Snow plows
- 8,000 tons of salt
- 20,000 tons of gravel
- 100,000 gallons of brine
- 247 employees on call covering 5,667 lane miles
- District has two shifts; 125 employees per shift
Motorists are urged to:
- Slow down and stay behind the snowplows. The road behind the plow will be the safest place to drive. Allow at least ten car lengths between your vehicle and snowplows or hopper spreaders.
- Do not pass. The plows are wide, and sometimes a group of trucks will work in tandem to clear snow quickly, especially on major highways.
- Be particularly aware of black ice conditions on surfaces such as bridge decks and entrance and exit ramps late tonight and the early hours of tomorrow morning.
- Remember that technology helps, but only to a point. Four-wheel drive, anti-lock brakes and traction control are beneficial advancements in today’s cars, trucks and SUVs, but they can’t take the place of good driving habits and the need to reduce speed on snowy or icy roads.
Call 511 or visit www.511ga.org to get current information on road conditions.
