Responding to the potential for the season’s first significant winter weather event, Georgia DOT crews are pretreating all major interstates across middle and north Georgia, spreading brine mixture to prevent or limit the build-up of ice. Statewide, Georgia DOT stands ready with approximately 1,900 employees on call with 54,030 tons of salt, 65,460 tons of gravel, 450,000 gallons of brine and more than 380 pieces of snow removal equipment. Over the past several years, the Department has made strategic investments in additional equipment and resources to help keep roadways clear and safe during winter storms and other inclement weather events.

“Our obligation – and our commitment – is to provide a safe and connected transportation system to the best of our ability at all times of the year,” Georgia DOT Commissioner Russell R. McMurry said. “The last few winter seasons gave us the opportunity to improve our winter weather response, even under the most unexpected conditions. As a result, Georgia DOT made a significant investment in technology, additional resources and equipment to bring us to the level of preparedness we are at today.”

Since 2014, additional resources, monitoring devices and deployment services include:

- Additional brine-making and snow removal equipment

- Construction of additional salt barns and material storage facilities

- Expansion of statewide Intelligent Transportation System features with a specific focus on additional resources along the I-20 corridor

- Expansion of the Roadway Weather and Information System, which allows the Department to utilize additional weather sensor data from neighboring states and general aviation airports.

Georgia DOT’s commitment to and investment in advanced winter weather technology - as evidenced by the Department’s focus on ITS and RWIS - is unsurpassed. This technology is an important element of the Department’s overall winter weather operation and helps make its response more effective and efficient.

The Department will also continue to deploy designated teams to respond to specific types of incidents - brine distribution teams dispensing brine before and during a winter weather event; interstate teams with snow plows and material spreaders treating the interstates around metro Atlanta; special response teams to specifically address hot spots as they arise; and traffic strike teams consisting of employees from GDOT and other state agencies to focus on clearing incidents on major interstates and roadways in metro Atlanta.

Expecting the first effects of the winter storm, northwest Georgia district crews began spreading brine at 9 a.m. on I-24, I-59 and I-75 from the Tennessee state line to Gordon County (Exits 354-306); areas vulnerable to freezing on major arterials (SR 515, SR 27, US 41) like hills, ramps, bridges, overpasses and interchanges; and on I-575 in Cherokee and its extension as SR 515 into Pickens, Gilmer and Fannin counties. The metro Atlanta district will begin brining all interstates and major state routes at 9 p.m. tonight.

“Even while using the best weather information technology, Mother Nature can surprise us,” the Commissioner added. “Georgia DOT employees care and we are dedicated to doing what it takes to ensure the safety of our citizens and visitors. We hope for the best, but are prepared for the worst.”

Overall motorists are cautioned to be aware of black ice that may occur whenever there is moisture on the roadway in freezing temperatures. Drivers should also watch for Georgia DOT crews working to clear snow and ice from interstates and state routes. These employees are working in a work zone and need to be safe. Do not pass a Georgia DOT dump truck spreading the salt/gravel mixture, as gravel may kick up and could break car windshields. Motorists should follow at least 100 feet behind Department vehicles and be extra cautious when driving through inclement weather conditions.