OKC Road Crews On Standby For Significant Winter Storm

By Heather Hope, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Salt truck operators in the Oklahoma City metro are gearing up for a major winter event Monday and Tuesday.

Crews would normally line the bridges with salt brine 24 to 48 hours before a big storm, but because rain could show up before the snow, crews held off Sunday because the salt treatment would just be washed off the roadways.

Salt truck drivers with Oklahoma City's Public Works Department showed up to work Sunday night, ready to work as the weather changes.

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"Well, we're pretty well prepared right now. We have 28 trucks loaded, plows on, we have 28 more that will be out of the shop in the morning and we'll put those back together, get those out," Oklahoma City Emergency Management Specialist, Mike Love, said.

Love manages Oklahoma City's emergency response task force. There are 75 covering around-the-clock shifts to keep the roads clear.

"We run our emergency snow route. We'll run that until it's free and clear. And if this stuff comes in like they're saying tomorrow, with these high winds, look forward to some drifting," said Love.

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Each truck carries about 10 tons of salt, or a whole swimming pool full.

"We can use as much as 1,500 tons a day depending on the storm," said Love.

So when you see the trucks on the street, give them some room.

"Give some distance to our trucks, especially if they're plowing and laying down salt, we have signs on the back that say stay back 100 feet, add another hundred to it," Love said.

If the snow comes down as projected this week, Love thinks crews should have the roads cleared by Thursday.

You can visit www.okc.gov for emergency snow routes or call the city at (405) 680-5808 to report road emergencies.