Over a year has passed since Metro Atlanta's crippling ice storm of 2011, but the memories of a city shut down are still crystal clear. I know the sight of I-285 being closed and people stuck on the interstate for hours will always remain with me.
So far in 2012, we've avoided any severe weather and threats of snow and ice have been minimal. Winter is far from over however, and when it finally decides to show up, the Georgia Department of Transportation will be better prepared to deal with situation this year than they were last year.
The Georgia DOT's 2012 Winter Weather plan now includes an additional $2.5 million investment in helping keep the roads passable. The bulk of the investment went to the purchase of needed plows and spreaders. The state now has 112 new plows and 155 new spreaders that help scatter salt and stone, and ice removal materials.
"Having more equipment allows us to have more units (trucks, spreaders and plows) working at the same time so we cover more lane miles," said Teri Pope of the GDOT.
In addition the state has six new tanks that are used to store and stockpile liquid de-icer and 11 new salt sheds that will allow the state's trucks easier access for re-loading.
With the extra equipment, the DOT will now be able to pre-treat roads when the threat of winter weather approaches. The thought being that a stitch in time, will indeed save nine.
Statewide the numbers are impressive. There are now 1,845 employees on call, covering 43,218 miles of roadway. There are more than 46,000 tons of gravel and more than 25,000 tons of rock salt now stockpiled across the state for use on the roads. With the latest purchase of vehicles, the state now has 313 pieces of snow removal equipment.
Even with this enhanced arsenal, Pope warns there is only so much the GDOT can do when the weather delivers the kind of punch that it did last year.
"Our goal is to keep state routes and interstates open to traffic but in a major winter event that just isn't possible. We can't be everywhere at the same time," Pope said.
In metro Atlanta the stockpiles of salt and gravel both exceed 6,000 tons each with 50 vehicles equipped with snow removal equipment. Locally there are 281 employees on call covering 4,582 miles of roadway.
Still, Pope said, the best way for drivers deal with a winter storm is to stay off the road unless it's and emergency.
"I've been told that I sound like a broken record when I say ‘please stay at home', she said. "It only takes one small patch of black ice for you to lose control of your vehicle. You could hurt someone else, too."
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