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(March 4, 2015) – The Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) is preparing for a storm Thursday that is forecasted to drop more than six inches of snow throughout the region. Since the storm will start as rain, SHA is not pre-treating roads with brine because it would wash away. Staff at the Statewide Operations Center will monitor conditions and deploy resources as needed.
“With the storm starting overnight, it is important for commuters to plan ahead and make sound judgments about driving or not in the morning. If you do choose to drive, be sure your vehicle can maneuver in the snow. Just one abandoned car can create a traffic jam that impacts everyone, including our plow trucks,” said SHA Administrator Melinda B. Peters. “SHA anticipates plowing roads as snow begins to accumulate. If you encounter our crews or emergency responders, please leave plenty of following distance and never try to pass plows.”
More than 2,700 personnel (state and contract) and 2,400 pieces of equipment are available statewide. To date, SHA has spent $95 million on winter operations and used 285,000 tons of salt.
SHA will deploy six heavy duty tow trucks across the Baltimore/Washington metropolitan region to assist disabled tractor trailers along the interstates. In storms that produce six inches or more of snow, truckers can safely ride out the storm. An
emergency truck parking map is available on the SHA website.
SHA crews will plow and salt as needed, but motorists must modify driving behavior for conditions. Drivers should slow down, use caution, allow plenty of distance between vehicles, use snow tires and allow plenty of time for travel. Visit
http://www.md511.org/ and
www.traffic.md.gov or call 511 for traffic information.
SHA maintains the numbered roads in Maryland with the exception of those on Baltimore City or tolled roads (including the ICC, I-95 north of Baltimore City, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge etc.)
Click here to obtain information for county roads departments.
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