RALEIGH – The following are highlights from this week at the N.C. Department of Transportation. The stories below are also featured in NCDOT Now, the department's weekly newscast.
Winter Weather
Just as the N.C. Department of Transportation finishes clearing roads from one storm, they are already treating them again for another winter storm.
Last week's winter storm brought snow and ice to the state, but NCDOT crews were prepared.
Pre-storm planning allowed teams to respond quickly once the snow and ice began falling in our area.
NCDOT had nearly 2,300 employees from all 14-highway divisions operating more than 1,400 pieces of equipment including motor graders and trucks equipped with spreaders and plows.
During the storm, crews applied about 71,000 tons of salt, focusing first on interstates, major highways and other primary routes, and typical trouble spots like bridges and overpasses.
Thanks to advanced preparation, a steady response by our crews, and a little help from some welcome sunshine, road conditions improved quickly.
"These guys need to be on the road plowing, preparing before the storm with brine, then applying salt and sand to deal with it." And if you can stay off the roads, you're going to make their jobs a whole lot easier, and a whole lot safer," said Governor Josh Stein.
We continue to urge drivers to watch out for remaining icy spots due to the extreme cold overnight temperatures.
And now another winter weather event is forecast to impact the state this weekend.
NCDOT will continue to monitor weather conditions and crews are already preparing to keep our roads safe for the next storm.
For real-time traffic and travel information, follow DriveNC.gov.
For more information about NCDOT Now, contact the NCDOT Communications Office at (919) 707-2660. Additional news stories from throughout the week can be found on NCDOT.gov.