Contact: Valerie Burnette Edgar (410) 545-0303
Crews Pre-Treated Bridges, Ramps and Overpasses throughout Much of the State in Anticipation of Major Weather Event
(December 18, 2009) – The Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) is ready to clear highways from the predicted major snow storm. The Mid-Atlantic region is in the bulls-eye of a powerful nor’easter that could dump more than a foot of snow in some places. SHA has up to 2,300 pieces of equipment (SHA and contractors) and 2,600 people to keep the highways safe and clear. In addition, SHA has up to 11 snow blower attachments for loaders in Central-Maryland. Snow blowers are effective with heavy snow removal.
SHA crews began pre-treating bridges, ramps and overpasses through much of central-Maryland on Thursday using salt brine, a concentrated salt water mixture. Salt brine adheres to the pavement and prevents the initial bond of snow or ice from forming. Pre-treatments are cost effective because less salt is required during actual precipitation. In Frederick and Howard counties, SHA crews used a combination of salt brine with a blend of sugar beet molasses on elevated sections of highway. SHA is piloting environmentally-friendly sugar beet molasses, which helps reduce salt scatter and has a low freezing point.
“We are committed to being prepared for winter weather. SHA crews will be out throughout the storm and get roads to bare pavement as soon as possible after the last flakes fall,” said SHA Administrator Neil J. Pedersen. “We strongly encourage motorists to stay one step ahead of winter weather and log onto www.roads.maryland.gov and click on the CHART icon for the latest real-time road conditions.”
SHA has more than 330,000 tons of salt available to treat SHA-maintained roads (i.e. State-numbered, non-tolled highways). To tackle especially challenging snow levels in the rural parts of the State, the fleet includes nearly 80 “wing plows.” This extra “wing” allow crews to move more snow in one pass, expediting snow removal and enhancing safety.
Motorists are reminded to stay behind and never pass snow plows or plow trains (multiple snow plows in tandem moving snow from right to left). The untreated highway is ahead of the snow plow and the plowed, treated highway is behind, so “Don’t Crowd the Plow.” Motorists are urged to leave plenty of commute time if they have to venture out in winter weather. SHA will monitor the storm from the Statewide Operations Center (SOC) near BWI Marshall Airport.
When a winter weather emergency occurs, the SOC doubles as the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), the command center for winter storm operations. From the EOC operators monitor traffic, collect information from roadway sensors, and deploy equipment such as snow plows and salt trucks.
FOR UPDATED ROAD CONDITION INFORMATION
Citizens can monitor road conditions by logging on to the State Highway Administration website at www.roads.maryland.gov and clicking on “CHART,” which stands for the Coordinated Highway Action Response Team. The CHART website offers a treasure trove of travel information, snow emergency plans, real-time traffic camera views, weather information, average travel speed maps and incident-related road closure reports. Motorists can also call the Winter Storm Hotline at 1-800-327-3125 for winter weather road closures, or monitor radio and TV stations for road related information.
Click here for Winter Operations Facts And Figures
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