WINSTON-SALEM – Crews are hard at work preparing major roadways in Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Rowan and Stokes counties for the winter storm expected to impact much of North Carolina over the weekend.
N.C. Department of Transportation's Division 9 had 116 employees and 32 trucks used to apply brine to interstates, four-lane primary routes and secondary routes that are essential to local and regional mobility. Brining work is complete in all of the division except for parts of Forsyth County, where it will wrap up Saturday.
Crews will then continue to monitor the forecast to be ready to begin clearing the expected snowfall.
The brine solution being applied to roadways is a mixture of 77 percent water and 23 percent salt that is made by each county maintenance office. It is effective for pre-treating roads when they are expected to remain dry when snow begins falling and accumulating.
In addition to lowering the freezing temperature of water to about 18 degrees Fahrenheit, preventing snow and ice from bonding to road surfaces, brine costs just $6 per lane mile. That's less than half the cost of rock salt treatment.
Due to anticipated slick conditions, drivers who must be out in the winter weather are urged to use extreme caution. Winter weather tips for motorists can be found on the NCDOT website.