GDOT to treat 21,000 miles of roads ahead of arctic weather headed toward Georgia

ATLANTA — The state said it is as ready as it can be for the dangerous cold coming Thursday night.

That includes getting roads ready for the big freeze.

Channel 2′s Richard Elliot learned that Georgia Department of Transportation crews are trying to prep some 21,000 miles of roads and interstates across North Georgia.

When they complete it, they’ll turnaround and do it again.

Elliot was there as three big flatbed trucks loaded down with brine tanks pulled into GDOT’s main metro Atlanta facility in Forest Park.

They treated so many roads and interstates across metro Atlanta that they were empty and needed refills.

They’re prepping 21,000 road surfaces from Macon to the North.

“Tonight, we’ll turn over our crews and we’ll get a whole other pass of brine down on metro Atlanta as well as some other areas,” GDOT spokeswoman Natalie Dale said.

Dale said even though many of the roads are wet, they are not wet enough to weaken the brine too much.

Plus, she said many of them are getting a second pass before the cold hits.

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Dale said those treated with rock salt actually benefit from getting wet.

“The more salt we have out there the better. Even with a significant rain, you’ll still get that salinity. You still have the benefits of brine,” Dale said.

Even Gov. Brian Kemp tweeted a word of caution for Georgia travelers as DOT continues treating roads.

“Remember to take your time behind the wheel and limit travel as much as possible. This will help them do their important work,” Kemp tweeted.

Elliot also sat down with Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security director Chris Stallings, who said he just spoke with all 159 counties to make sure they’re prepared.

“I think we’re right where we expected we’d be,” Stallings said.

He said state agencies are.

“We’re just kind of in a holding pattern right now. We’ve done the prep and now we’ve just got to make sure that we’re ready to through with the event,” Stallings said.

This storm won’t be a localized event like a hurricane on the coast.

All 159 Georgia counties will get hit by high winds and frigid cold, so all 159 counties have to be prepared.

RELATED NEWS:

Brine trucks begin to treat roads as frigid air approaches North Georgia The state says the brine will help prevent roads and bridges from freezing as temperatures begin to drop Thursday night.

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