CHARLOTTE – As a strong winter storm approaches the Piedmont, Department of Transportation crews are continuing preparations to handle snow, freezing rain, sleet or ice in Charlotte and to the east.
Tonight, contract crews in Mecklenburg and Cabarrus counties will start pre-treating interstates with a brine solution that is a mixture of water and salt, and on the Monroe Expressway in Union County. The operation will start with 20 brine trucks, increasing to 68 over the weekend, topping out at just under 100 by Sunday night to help plow away any accumulating snow.
NCDOT crews in Mecklenburg County will start to brine other roadways on Friday morning, using 10 state trucks. An additional 23 contract trucks will be available over the weekend to help clear primary roads.
In other areas of Division 10, including Anson, Cabarrus, Stanly and Union counties, state forces will start brining operations late tonight and tomorrow morning, continuing until all bare pavement routes are treated. Crews will be away from their families for the duration of the storm, working in rotating 12-hour shifts until roads are clear.
Additional safety tips for motorists and details on how NCDOT prepares for winter storms is available on NCDOT's website.
For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on Twitter.