OKC city crews prepare roads for winter storm

Oklahoma City's Public Works department is hard at work preparing roads for the winter storm expected to hit the metro Tuesday. This preparation includes treating the roads with a beet juice brine solution, salt and involves more than 30 snow plows.

Prep Before the Storm

Public Works Emergency Operations Manager Mike Love says it all begins with a pretreat program where crews lay down the beet juice brine solution along the snow routes. The solution dries on the pavement and helps keep the wintery mix of precipitation from adhering to the roadway. This makes it easier for plows to remove snow and ice from the roads.

During the Storm

Love says the city deploys over 30 salt trucks to dump salt on the roadway and make it as safe as possible for drivers. These trucks also help clear the precipitation from roads. Love says the 32 drivers will work 12-hour on, 12-hour off shifts as needed starting Monday night at midnight.

A Message to Drivers

The City of Oklahoma City encourages drivers to stay home for the next few days if possible. If you have to get out and drive, do so with caution.

"Give yourself plenty of time when you leave, definitely. The speed limit is not going to be your friend this time. The slower, the better. Give yourself enough room in between other vehicles and yourself," Love said.

Drivers can also visit okc.gov/prepare to view an interactive map of snow routes in the metro.