GDOT beginning snow removal across region, stressing roads still hazardous
MGN
ATLANTA, Ga. (WDEF) — As snow, sleet, and freezing rain blanketed north and central Georgia on Friday, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) shifted from brine treatment to snowplowing and road clearing.
More than 300 pieces of equipment have been deployed to tackle hazardous road conditions, prioritizing heavily traveled routes for emergency vehicles.
With continued precipitation in the forecast, including sleet and freezing rain, GDOT has warned that road conditions remain treacherous.
Numerous crashes have been reported across interstates and state routes, and officials are urging residents to stay off the roads.
At a Friday press conference, Governor Brian Kemp praised the collaborative efforts of state agencies and thanked Georgians for heeding warnings to avoid unnecessary travel.
“I want to thank our citizens for listening to the advice we’ve been giving over the last 24-48 hours about being prepared and winter-weather ready,” Kemp said.
As of Friday morning, GDOT crews had treated over 20,000 lane miles of roads with more than one million gallons of brine and applied 770 tons of salt.
Major interstates in the affected areas had been treated at least twice before the storm began.
The department also warned of the potential for black ice as temperatures drop overnight, with melted precipitation likely to refreeze.
GDOT crews will continue plowing and re-treating roads to minimize ice buildup, though officials cautioned that travel remains hazardous.
Express lanes on I-75 Northwest and South Metro remain closed and will reopen only once deemed safe.
Local transit services in dozens of counties, including Athens-Clarke, Bartow, Cherokee, and Henry, have suspended operations, while UGA Transit, Southeastern Stages, and Greyhound are operating modified schedules.
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect through Saturday at 7 a.m., and a State of Emergency declaration covers all of Georgia through January 14.
Motorists are advised to limit travel until at least midday Saturday.
For real-time updates, travelers can contact 511GA, download the 511GA app, or visit 511GA.org. For winter weather resources, visit GDOT’s Winter Weather page.
