The Georgia Department of Transportation will begin treating highways Friday morning as it prepares for winter weather this weekend across the northern part of the state.
The forecast calls for a wintry mix and possible accumulation of snow or ice late Saturday and early Sunday. GDOT says it will begin treating highways with brine early Friday and continue into Sunday.
“We are monitoring the storm closely and adjusting response plans as needed,” GDOT Commissioner Russell McMurry said. “As the forecast has evolved, it has become more likely that a significant area of Georgia will experience icy conditions as part of the incoming storm system.
“Ice adds a level of complexity, as well as increased danger, for our crews and motorists,” McMurry said. “We anticipate downed trees, limbs and power lines.”
GDOT crews will prioritize interstates, state routes, bridges and overpasses for brine treatment. As conditions warrant, it also will apply salt and gravel.
The agency asked motorists to give its crews and vehicles plenty of room so they can work safely.
“It is critical that motorists take this storm system very seriously and stay off the roads through the end of the event to give our crews the space needed to work,” McMurry said.
Tracking Atlanta’s winter weather
Check back with AJC.com for updates on ice or other conditions affecting metro Atlanta and North Georgia in the aftermath of the weekend’s snow and wintry mix. On Twitter, follow @ajc and @ajcwsbtraffic. On Facebook: @ajc
Weather radar, forecasts, watches and warnings for metro Atlanta
Check power outage maps for Georgia Power and EMCs outside Georgia Power territory
How the weather might affect airline flights
Black ice: What Georgia drivers need to know to stay safe
How and when to protect your pipes from freezing
Updates from the weekend: Ice, wind and snow reports in Atlanta and North Georgia
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