NC Snow: Stay Off Roads As Winter Weather Hits, Officials Warn

NORTH CAROLINA — The North Carolina Department of Transportation is gearing up for severe winter weather this weekend, and North Carolina residents are asked to help make their jobs easier by staying off the roads.

“Our crews and contractors are doing all we can to get ready for this storm and we ask North Carolinians to prepare as well,” said J. Eric Boyette, State Transportation Secretary. “Please make sure to plan ahead because this storm could impact travel around the state.”

NCDOT crews and their contractors started preparing Thursday by brining roads across the state, using a salt water mixture to help reduce ice buildup.

With any chance of ice, the risk of trees falling and power lines icing goes up as well, so utility trucks are ready to go. According to NCDOT, chainsaws and other heavy machinery are at the ready to help clear roads post-storm.

“After the storm hits, please stay home and off the roads,” said NCDOT Chief Operating Officer Beau Memory. “NCDOT and contractor crews will do the best they can to clear roads as quickly as possible, but we ask everyone to be safe and stay patient.”

• In the Charlotte area, 133 transportation crews will use 288 trucks with as much as 125,000 gallons of brine to pre-treat about 2,000 lane miles. In the Shelby area, more than 200 employees will be on hand to apply about 143,000 gallons of brine before the storm hits.