Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) crews and contractors are set to begin brine operations in District 2, which covers east-central Georgia, starting Friday, January 30 at 7 a.m. Brine is a saltwater solution used to reduce the chance of road surfaces freezing during winter weather.
The GDOT will prioritize interstates and critical routes before moving on to additional roads as conditions allow. Due to the expected size of the storm, brining will occur across all routes in District 2. However, not every lane mile will be treated to maximize coverage.
On roads with two lanes in each direction, only ramps and outside lanes will be brined. For highways with three or more lanes in each direction, ramps and the two outside lanes will receive treatment. The left-hand lane on multi-lane highways and interstates will not be treated.
Initial efforts by GDOT maintenance crews will focus on Interstate 16, Interstate 20, and Interstate 520/Bobby Jones Expressway. A contractor for GDOT will handle state routes north of I-20, while after treating interstates, GDOT crews plan to brine state routes south of I-20.
Trucks applying brine must travel at least 40 mph for proper application. Motorists are advised to stay back at least 100 feet from these vehicles.
According to current forecasts, GDOT expects to transition from brining to salt spreading and plowing operations on Saturday morning. Plowing is expected to continue throughout the storm and after snowfall ends due to ongoing accumulation caused by large snowflakes and low temperatures.
Drivers should not expect completely clear roads during heavy snowfall even after plows have passed. “Salt and plow operations will be driven by priority. Crews will focus on making one lane of the interstate passable in each direction first,” according to GDOT.
The department urges residents to avoid non-essential travel over the weekend as blocked roads hinder plowing efforts. Those who must drive should exercise caution by reducing speed and allowing extra stopping distance.
GDOT also reminds drivers that local governments are responsible for most local and county roads; their treatment plans may differ from those for state routes or interstates.
Crews will work around the clock beginning Friday morning until conditions improve, with all district maintenance staff working twelve-hour shifts.
Plans may change depending on updated weather reports. For real-time road updates or incident reporting, visit https://511ga.org/. Motorists needing assistance can request HERO or CHAMP help through the same website.
