City Salt, Sand Crews Ready To Work As Roads, Bridges Refreeze

The snow we saw Sunday is now slush and could become ice overnight. But, the city is ready and taking action, and many drivers should take it slow and watch out for slick areas, especially on bridges and overpasses as spots refreeze

Sunday, February 2nd 2014, 10:53 pm

By: News 9


As you head out, be sure to watch out for black ice. The snow we saw Sunday is now slush and could become ice overnight. But, the city is ready and taking action, and many drivers should take it slow and watch out for slick areas, especially on bridges and overpasses as spots refreeze

Clearing road after road on a snowy day, a plow is a salt-truck driver's best friend.

"I'll just move from street to street from dispatch or whoever needs it, I'll be out there," said Frank Rivera, Oklahoma City construction equipment operator.

"I'll start at 63rd and Western and go and head down to the end of my sub and make sure the whole thing's clean and salted, make it safe and then I head on to my next one."

2/2/2014 Related Story: OK EMSA Responders Get First Major Test In Winter Blast

Thanks to well-salted roads, drivers were able to travel smoothly on many clear city streets. But residential and back roads are a different story and still snowy as the city can't afford to clear those.

So crews on both the roadways and highways are stressing drivers should take it easy on hills and overpasses, especially as the nighttime presents more challenges.

"The temperature could drop really bad, but hopefully the roads won't ice over," Rivera said. "But we do keep crews going. I'll be off at midnight and then the other crew will be in at midnight to noon, and they'll be salting the roads just trying to keep it safe."

City Supervisors say crews could be on these 24-hour, 12-on and 12-off shifts, for the rest of the week as we expect another wave of bad weather to roll through. And they want to make sure the salt-truck drivers are rested and ready for what's ahead.

All 30 of the city's truck are being used around the clock to clear streets and ODOT reports there are 51 of its trucks in the Oklahoma City area keeping highways clear.

2/2/2014 Related Story: First Winter Storm Of 2014 Moving Across Oklahoma

logo

Get The Daily Update!

Be among the first to get breaking news, weather, and general news updates from News 9 delivered right to your inbox!

More Like This

February 2nd, 2014

March 22nd, 2024

March 14th, 2024

February 9th, 2024

Top Headlines

March 29th, 2024

March 29th, 2024

March 28th, 2024

March 28th, 2024