After several years of successful testing in the
mountains and the Triad, NCDOT will expand its anti-icing efforts to
help prevent ice and snow build-up on most interstates and primary
highways in the state. This expansion includes the Triangle,
Charlotte and Fayetteville metropolitan areas, as well as their
surrounding counties.
"Citizens rely on the state's highways every day," said Transportation
Secretary Lyndo Tippett. "By expanding the department's
anti-icing program, NCDOT is able to stay a step ahead of winter
weather for continued mobility and to make the best use of our
resources."
Anti-icing is a process in which a chemical treatment is sprayed on
roadways up to 48 hours before the onset of winter precipitation.
The anti-icing agent sticks to roadways and prevents ice and snow from
bonding to the surface during the first hours of a storm. Use of the
agent is a preventive measure that saves time and allows the department
to allocate its resources more efficiently.
In addition to preventive treatments, NCDOT is ready to use salt and
sand to treat roadways after precipitation begins to accumulate.
The department is able to store over 100,000 tons of salt and sand and
uses between 50,000 and 60,000 tons during a typical winter.
Gov. Mike Easley declared Dec. 5-11 as Winter Weather Awareness Week in
North Carolina and is reminding citizens and businesses to prepare now
for snow and ice storms.
The department has over 2,800 pieces of equipment and over 6,000
employees available to clear North Carolina's 78,500-mile
state-maintained highway system. NCDOT's array of snow and ice
clearing equipment includes over 2,000 trucks equipped with plows and
spreaders, 475 front-end loaders and backhoes, 550 motor graders and
five snow blowers. The department also outfits pick-up trucks
with snow plows to clear less traveled roads.
The department gives first priority to clearing interstates and
four-lane divided primary routes that are essential to the movement of
intrastate and regional traffic. After these roads are clear, priority
moves to clearing lower volume primary roads, and other secondary
routes.
The complete snow clearing policy can be found at:
www.doh.dot.state.nc.us/operations/dp_chief_eng?maintenance/road_main/Roads/snowcler.html
***NCDOT***
NCDOT NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Andrew Sawyer, Public Information Officer, (919) 733-2522
Release No. 582
December 8, 2004
