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Nov 20, 2008 7:44 pm US/Eastern
State Gets Ready For Winter Weather
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
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With snow in the forecast, state highway and city road crews are prepared for winter weather.
CBS
With snow in the forecast, state highway and city road crews are prepared for winter weather.
Suzanne Collins has the latest on how advanced technology being used this year will really help drivers during snow storms.
Snow is right around the corner, and state and city crews say they're ready for it.
One truck you'll see more often this winter is a winged plow with two blades. Officials say don't try to get around snow plows. But trying to pass one like this could be more dangerous.
"You get a lot of vehicles in a hurry that want to get home. They'll try to pass you. You see a lot of vehicles that ride the back of you and you can't see them in the mirror," said Dave Nichols, SHA plow driver.
The state wants drivers to know they'll see more trucks driving and spraying a liquid on the roadway, but don't worry. It's not icing up the road. Instead, it's spraying a salt brine to prevent the sticking of snow and ice.
"To do an advance, even up to 12 hours, on bridges and overpasses to try and keep them from freezing, to try and keep any precipitation from bonding to the road," said Valerie Burnette Edgar with State Highway Administration.
The state wants people to check out its webpage, which has live webcams on various routes.
"We also have road conditions and actually Garrett and Alleghany Counties are currently reporting because they're getting a little bit of snow out there," said Dave Ross, webmaster for State Highways.
At the Operations Center, roads in Western Maryland are being monitored and crews dispatched if necessary. Baltimore road crews are also loading up salt for a possible snow.
"In order to be successful in our efforts to clear snow from the roadways, we need cooperation and assistance of all citizens and motorists," said Albert Foxx, Baltimore Public Works.
The city declares phases. Phase 1 requires snow tires, all weather radials or chains. Phase 2 means no parking on emergency routes and in Phase 3, there's only emergency vehicles on the roads.
Don't forget to have an ice scraper in your car. Officials say not being able to see because of obstructions like snow or ice is a big reason for accidents during a snowstorm.
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