The state’s Transportation Management Center was a scene of bleary-eyed relief at daybreak Monday as it became apparent that a dangerous freeze of most the metro Atlanta’s rain-slickened roads was no longer imminent.
Six additional people — half of the 6 a.m. shift — were asked to come in early at 4 a.m. to monitor an expected increase in reports of dangerous road conditions to 511 and be ready to dispatch HERO trucks. But high winds had dried much of the pavement before temperatures dipped below freezing.
Twenty-one screens displaying camera views of conditions on the interstates showed them flowing freely at 8 a.m.
“What’s really helping is a lot of schools aren’t in,” said Tracey Francis, the traffic center manager. “A lot of parents are off with their kids. I think it would be a lot busier if they weren’t.”
When a reporter commented on the quietness, GDOT spokeswoman Karlene Barron held up a finger to her lips.
“Shhhh,” she cautioned. “Don’t jinx it.”
District and maintenance engineers had gathered in the “war room,” or Incident Management Room, where they prepared to tough out the cold until the danger for motorists passed. Their job is to disperse maintenance workers and equipment such as salt spreaders and snow plows to different parts of the state. But aside answering or placing the occasional phone call, much of their morning was spent watching the news and chatting.
By about 10 a.m., GDOT officials decided no large-scale coordination appeared to be needed. The only remaining concern was that the deep freeze could cause some pipes and water mains to burst, which could allow water to pool and freeze in isolated spots. They disbanded efforts in the “war room,” and left each of the seven districts in the state to operate routinely to dispatch equipment and workers where needed.
Statewide the Georgia Department of Transportation has the ability to dispatch up to 1,877 maintenance and construction employees and 568 pieces of equipment in winter emergencies. But only 164 workers and 70 vehicles were sent out Monday morning to patrol and fix isolated slick spots, said Barron.
The state also has a stock of 25,551 tons of salt, 33,555 tons of gravel and 30,000 gallons of brine. Barron said it won’t be known how much of that was needed to pretreat or de-ice roads until after weather conditions improve and the equipment returns.
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