GEORGIA - Based on the National Weather Service Winter Weather advisory that includes sections of our 27-county east central Georgia District, Georgia DOT Madison and Augusta area brine operations began at 8 a.m. today.
Brine is a salt water mixture that reduces ice sticking to the roadway and also makes clearing accumulation much easier if an event drops freezing precipitation.
The Department is treating Interstate 20, Interstate 520 (Bobby Jones Expressway) and also priority state routes along this corridor. Bridges and overpasses will get brine as well.
Please be aware of the brine trucks in your areas given they must travel 40 mph to properly apply the treatment. Pay attention to GDOT trucks spreading materials and stay back a safe distance.
All of our five area maintenance crews together with two region-wide teams will work 12-hour shifts starting at 7 p.m. tonight. Another shift will be on standby beginning at 7 a.m. Wednesday if needed.
GDOT has beefed up its capabilities, equipment and materials to deal with these events.
Statewide (approximately)
- 1,938 employees on call covering 39,919 lane miles
- 54,030 tons of salt
- 65,460 tons of gravel
- 426 snow removal equipment units (one plow + hopper + truck = one equipment unit)
- Capacity to store 550,000 gallons of brine
- Can produce 20,000 gallons of brine per hour
- GDOT may relocate district resources to the most needed areas during an event.
