Responding to the potential for the season’s first significant winter weather event, Georgia DOT crews have pretreated all major interstates, including I-75, across middle, east and north Georgia, spreading brine mixture. Brine is a mixture of salt and water is used as a preventative treatment and is intended to limit the bonding of the ice to the pavement. Brine operations started today at 7 a.m. on I-85 and 185 from the Alabama/Georgia state line and I-75 from Henry to Bibb County. These tankers will also treat various other major secondary state routes throughout our 31-county district area. Bridges and overpasses are included in the treatment plan.
District personnel, local equipment operators, highway maintenance workers, mechanics and supervisors will begin working 12-hour shifts at 7 a.m. Friday and continue in the area until the State Maintenance Office and Georgia Emergency Management Agency determine any threat of winter weather has passed. Citizens should expect to see vehicles deploying brine and also traditional salt and gravel measures throughout Winter Storm Helena. We will have our crews strategically placed in locations where they can quickly spread the materials on all the major interstates and state routes. But we must have the public’s cooperation in this effort. We cannot spread the materials if we are stuck in traffic; and without the materials on the roadway before the snow hits, we lose a valuable tool in fighting the effects of this winter storm.
Overall, motorists are cautioned to be aware of black ice that may occur whenever there is moisture on the roadway in freezing temperatures. This is especially important after the storm leaves and temperatures drop Saturday evening.
Drivers should also watch for Georgia DOT crews working to clear snow and ice from interstates and state routes. These employees are working in a work zone and need to be safe. Do not pass a Georgia DOT dump truck spreading the salt/gravel mixture, as gravel may kick up and could break car windshields. Motorists should follow at least 100 feet behind Department vehicles and be extra cautious when driving through inclement weather conditions.
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