CLEVELAND — With snow on the way, the Ohio Department of Transportation is preparing to clear the roads as soon as the flakes start falling, but for this upcoming winter storm you won’t see trucks out pretreating the roads.
Since rain is expected to fall first before turning into snow, ODOT can’t pretreat the roads with salt as the rain would wash it away. Luckily, pavement temperatures are still high enough that the rain isn't expected to freeze when it hits, ODOT said.
ODOT says it has 300 plows ready to roll across Northeast Ohio, 315,000 tons of salt and crews working 12-hour days, in two shifts to clear roads 24/7.
Still, motorists should travel with caution.
Those on the roads are asked to give plows plenty of space and to not cut in front of them.
"When I've talked to drivers after winter events, that's one of the biggest things they tell me, is that you know you wouldn't believe how many drivers cut me off today. well they're driving tons of salt and their trucks already weigh tons, so that's a lot to stop, it's just not simple for them to do that," said Amanda McFarland, spokesperson for ODOT Northeast Ohio.
Motorists should always remember to give themselves time to get to where they need to be so they can take things slow if the roads are bad. It also doesn’t hurt to have essential items like blankets, a flashlight, a cell phone charger and a shovel, sand or kitty litter in case you get stuck.
RELATED: Winter Storm Warnings take effect at 7 p.m. across Northeast Ohio
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