With winter weather forecasted to hit portions of central and eastern North Carolina Friday night and Saturday, crews from the N.C. Department of Transportation are preparing the state’s roads, bridges and overpasses.
NC DOT crews in Division 4, which include six counties east of Raleigh including Johnston County, are also busy preparing major thoroughfares for possibly winter weather. These include brining activities along I-40, I-95, U.S. 70, U.S. 64, U.S. 264 and I-795.
Forces in both divisions are also readying and testing equipment such as snow plows and spreaders, checking fuel supplies and are alerting response personnel to be on standby.
“Applying brine is the biggest thing we can do to prepare, but we are also moving equipment into strategic positions and other activities behind the scenes,” Division Four engineer Tim Little said.
Brining treatment operations are expected to continue this afternoon (Thursday) and into Friday morning.
In Division 1, which includes 14 counties in the northeastern portion of the state, crews are applying brine to the division’s major highways and secondary roads, which include U.S. 64, U.S. 158 and U.S. 17. Staff will also monitor conditions on several high-rise bridges, as well as spots along N.C. 12 known to be prone to ocean over-wash.
“Our preparation activities are currently underway now and will continue into the morning,” Division One engineer Jerry Jennings said. “Our crews are using all of the tools and materials at our disposal to prepare for any significant weather that may come.”
