ASHEVILLE — Roger Ayers jumped in his white pickup and headed east on Interstate 40.
A dozen yellow snowplow trucks fell in line on Thursday evening, as did two lowboy trailers hauling a motor grader. Two support trucks served as the caboose for the caravan headed to the coast.
More than 30 N.C. Department of Transportation employees from Division 14 — the 10 westernmost counties in the state — volunteered to spend a long weekend pushing snow, removing ice and clearing roads near the coast.
“We have quite a bit of experience pushing snow,” said Ayers, the trip team leader and Henderson County Maintenance Engineer. “Some of our guys have been doing this for 20 years and we’re all happy to help.”
The caravan made quite a spectacle as teams from various counties — including Henderson, Jackson and Swain — departed from a rest area off I-40. The 33 employees chose to spend at least four days away from their families and friends in order to assist friends across the state. They will work long shifts, and as always, they’ll work until the roads are clear.
“We are extremely grateful to our fellow DOT employees in Division 14 for making the trek to our region in order to assist us in clearing our roads and bridges,” said Division 2 Engineer Preston Hunter whose area includes Pitt County.