Winter Weather Alert
Crews are Pretreating the Maryland State Highway System with Salt Brine
(February 10, 2025) – The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration is preparing for a winter storm that will affect much of the state with accumulating snow beginning Tuesday afternoon. The latest forecast has the storm leaving the state Wednesday.
Crews are pretreating roads with salt brine, which prevents the initial bonding of snow and ice from adhering to the pavement. The State Highway Administration is encouraging drivers to limit unnecessary travel during the storm to allow crews to have space to effectively and efficiently treat the roads. State Highway Administration emergency patrols will also be deployed to assist disabled motorists, help with any crash cleanup and remove debris from travel portions of state roads.
For those who must travel, we encourage drivers to get the latest information by logging onto roads.maryland.gov. Here, highway users can access the
Statewide Transportation Operations Resource Map (STORM) application that identifies where State Highway Administration and contractual equipment are and where they have been, as well as real-time weather information.
The State Highway Administration offers the following advice for winter driving:
- Slow down. Posted speed limits are for ideal (dry) weather conditions.
- Use extra caution on elevated surfaces, such as bridges, overpasses, and ramps as they are the first to freeze.
- Don’t crowd the plow. Stay behind and leave plenty of space between your vehicle and State Highway Administration equipment. Crews are literally clearing a path for highway users.
- Before driving, clear all snow from the vehicle as emaining snow on hoods and roofs can become ice and dislodge during highway travel which poses hazards to other motorists.
- Move over or slow down when approaching emergency equipment – It’s the law!
Drivers should ensure their vehicles are in proper working order, including adequate tire tread, lighting systems are operational and that fluids are at the recommended levels. Residents should also clear snow from the entire vehicle before driving.