Throughout the winter season, NCDOT prioritizes the problem of icy roads by constantly navigating the protocols they have in place.
Holt Willis, a western Wake County maintenance engineer, shared with Eyewitness News that the DOT treats and clears roads that are most traveled and are more accessible to emergency facilities and critical job facilities first.
The DOT tells us that they anticipate winter storms happening, and like to begin brining the roads within 48 hours of the storm coming.
Why does brining have to be done before a winter storm arrives, you might ask? It helps prevent ice from bonding to the pavement.
Willis says that the amount of brine used in Wake County for a typical winter storm is about 180,000 gallons. That's enough to fill 10 backyard swimming pools!
The road temperatures also have to be around a certain degree and rising before they can put brine down. There have been times where temperatures are too cold making brine application ineffective.
If air temperatures are below 15 to 20 degrees (Fahrenheit), that's when the brine starts becoming ineffective. That can be a huge issue when Wake County alone has more than 6,000 lane miles of road.
Not much has changed in NCDOT's strategy or equipment over the years, but they have increased the number of people on staff. This allows for more resources during a winter storm.
They say the number one thing that will keep the roads safe during a winter storm is up to you. They ask for those who have the option, to stay home and give them room to work.