WACO, TX — Maintenance crews with the Texas Department of Transportation have applied pretreatment to bridges, overpasses, and problem areas in anticipation of wintry weather in Central Texas.
"Our crews are mobilized and hitting, district-wide, the structures, which are the bridges and overpasses and some problem areas across the district," said Jake Smith with TxDOT Waco District. "So McLennan County and the surrounding counties are all getting pretreated with a brine solution, which that solution helps prevent the precipitation from adhering onto the roadway."
According to Smith, bridges and overpasses are targeted with the pretreatment solution first due to being an elevated surface and their tendency to freeze.
"If you're commuting or if you're traveling and you're approaching a bridge or overpass take it easy, take it slow," he said.
Beginning Saturday night, Smith says TxDOT personnel will shift to 24-hour operations through Monday to monitor roadway conditions and perform ice control operations as needed. He says Central Texans should be prepared for the possibility of delays in areas receiving treatment or where inclement weather is occurring.
"They will be mobilized on Saturday," he said. "I just want to encourage and urge motorists and your viewers to please give our crew members some space if you see our vehicles out on the roadway treating it. Please give them some space as they do their job and for the safety of yourself and for them."
TxDOT Waco District has additional tips for motorist driving in winter weather:
- If you can, avoid unnecessary travel
- Drive to to the conditions at hand
- Do not use cruise control or lane assist
- Give yourself extra travel time to get to your destination
- Check DriveTexas.org for up-to-date traffic and road conditions
For the latest information from the Texas Department of Transportation Waco District, you can visit their website, or follow their Twitter account. For up-to-date road conditions across the State of Texas, visit DriveTexas.org before you hit the road.
