GREENVILLE— N.C. Department of
Transportation crews continue their efforts to clear roads in the eight counties
that comprise Division 2: Jones, Lenoir, Greene, Pitt, Beaufort, Pamlico, Craven
and Carteret. Crews are challenged not only with the icy conditions, but
bitterly cold temperatures as well.
It is the ice that has been the biggest issue, as solid ice cannot
be plowed. The combination of salt and sunshine are helping melt the ice, so
that it can be pushed off the roadway. However, with the temperature dropping
into the teens and single digits overnight, any areas of road that are still wet
experience a hard freeze that salt cannot melt until the temperature is back in
the 20’s the next day.
For the past few days, local crews have been hard at work with 72
plow and spreader trucks and 19 motor-graders, which aid in the pushing of
melting and broken up ice. NCDOT has sent additional resources from across the
state to assist those crews. Counties in the western mountains sent crews with
12 trucks and two motor-graders, as well additional manpower to operate division
equipment. Nine more trucks and three motor-graders from the Shelby region
arrived Friday night and were on local roads this morning. Additional staff from
divisions in the Triangle, Charlotte area and Winston-Salem are also on hand to
assist with equipment maintenance.
Current conditions in Division 2 are as follows: four-lane primary
roads are mostly cleared; Two-lane primary roads in Greene, Jones and Pamlico
counties are clear with icy patches; the majority of two-lane primary roads in
Beaufort, Pitt, Carteret and Craven counties are clear with some icy spots.
Most secondary roads in Division 2 are still icy with some clearing
in open areas exposed to sunlight. Driving on less-traveled secondary roads will
be hazardous, especially on shaded streets where ice continues to cover the
road. Residents are urged to stay home if possible, and to use extreme caution
if they must travel.
Drivers venturing out today should also expect to encounter work
crews and their equipment into the early evening, and need to maintain a safe
distance from them.
Motorists can check www.DriveNC.gov to get travel updates, which are also available on
the NCDOT twitter
accounts.