RALEIGH – State transportation officials are encouraging people to prepare for the winter storm now because once it arrives most people will need to avoid traveling.
“Safety is our top priority, and we don’t want anyone taking unnecessary risks,” said State Transportation Secretary Daniel Johnson. “The time to be out getting any supplies you may need is now. Based on the latest weather forecast, driving could be treacherous across much of our state during the storm and for several days afterwards.”
The N.C. Department of Transportation crews have readied their trucks and equipment and treated interstates, highways and well-traveled secondary roads for any snow and ice the state could receive.
In recent days, more than 1,800 NCDOT employees and contractors have been pre-treating roads, restocking salt supplies and getting ready for the storm. As of Thursday afternoon, state crews had placed more than 1.8 million gallons of brine to pre-treat thousands of miles of roads statewide. The saltwater solution lowers the freezing temperature of water to about 18 degrees and helps prevent ice from forming on pavement.
The state agency has over 1,250 dump trucks that can be equipped with plows and spreaders to remove snow and ice, and 913 contract trucks. The agency also has 217 motor graders and more than 150,000 tons of salt ready to treat roads, and is actively securing additional salt to replenish supplies throughout the event.
NCDOT crews will be staged with equipment in areas known to be trouble spots so they can respond once precipitation starts. They are ready to work around-the-clock in shifts to plow and treat snow and ice until all state-maintained roads are cleared. This includes a support system of staff from less impacted regions and NCDOT teams that remove fallen trees and debris from roads, and work with utilities when downed trees involve power lines.
NCDOT
clears roads starting with interstates and four-lane highways first and then works on primary and secondary roads.
Officials to activate immediate tow measure
As another measure to prepare for the storm, NCDOT and the State Highway Patrol will activate immediate towing approvals statewide starting at 6 a.m. Friday.
North Carolina law allows immediate towing as a safety measure to quickly remove any disabled or abandoned vehicles from the road or right of way so those vehicles don't pose a danger to the traveling public or impede crews' snow and ice removal efforts. Crews will focus their towing efforts on highways and primary routes. The immediate tow measure will remain in place until the State Highway Patrol and NCDOT determine it's safe enough to remove it. Digital highway signs have been updated to alert drivers to the immediate towing measure.
The storm is expected to bring widespread snow, sleet and freezing rain to North Carolina starting early Saturday and continuing throughout the weekend. Road conditions could quickly deteriorate and remain dangerous as the bitter cold temperatures expected next week will cause snow and ice that melts during the day to refreeze overnight.
“We urge people to get prepared now for what’s shaping up to be a very cold period in store for our state,” Johnson said. “Please don’t try to drive once the storm hits unless it’s necessary. This will help keep you safe and give our crews and other emergency responders the space they need to do their jobs.”
For real-time travel information, visit
DriveNC.gov or follow
NCDOT on social media.