As the conditions worsen, the crews at the Texas Department Of Transportation work to make sure the roads are safe for your commute.
"Our main objective is to get those four roads (I-20, Winters Freeway, Loop 322, and US-277) cleared for the traffic," says Mary Beth Kilgore of TxDOT.
Their eyes were watching the weather as it began to drop lower and lower. "Our supervisor at our Taylor County Maintenance Office is constantly watching the weather."
TxDOT know the conditions might be dangerous tonight, so they prepare hours in advance to be ready for when the ice hits. "We know that we'll be out tonight at some point," says Kilgore, "we'll go out and start spreading the Magnesium Chloride on structures (like bridges and roadways)."
These large trucks are loaded with a special compound, Magnesium Chloride, that they lay down on bridges and roads. Although, for it to be effective drivers need to know that it takes a few moments for it to melt the ice. "People need to be mindful of that when you're following a truck. [It] takes a minute or so for the stuff to start taking effect and start melting," explains Kilgore. She adds that when drivers fly by in their vehicles the melting agent can be thrown from the road by their tires and that doesn't help the road at all.
With the weather threatening the roads for the next few days, TxDOT promises that until the roads are safe, they won't stop working. "It doesn't matter how long it takes, but until it clears up and its safe for the traveling public, we'll be out there."
So drivers be cautious as you get out either tonight or in the morning, especially going over bridges where ice can quickly form.
