Roanoke Rapids Public Works crews pretreated city streets with some 16,800 gallons of brine.
When the thaw comes, Public Works Director Larry Chalker estimates some 250,000 gallons will have been applied across the city.
The brine is made in-house at the public works department on Hinson Street. “That helps us out a whole lot,” Chalker said.
The city has been using its five snowplows and its five brine applicator trucks to treat the streets. “We’re getting it put out as hard as we can. We’re plowing streets, getting the loose stuff off and starting over and putting brine back down again.”
Estimates of snowfall in the area range from 2-3 to 4-5 inches.
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The city has been working nonstop for the past day and a half, Chalker said. “I can’t say how good the employees we have are. I’m proud to be a part of that team.”
Sunshine today is expected to make travel relatively easy, Chalker said, but tonight and into the morning there will be a refreeze. “The motoring public needs not to travel. We saw people throughout the night in the ditch.”
Even during the refreeze, Chalker said crews will be out treating roads. “We will continue until the streets are clear. We’re going to fight until the fight is done.”
At its early morning briefing, the National Weather Service in Raleigh reported arctic high pressure takes over today, allowing mostly sunny skies to prevail across the area.
“This will promote some melting during the day, even if temperatures remain below freezing,” the NWS said.
Upon sunset, refreezing will be likely each night. Impacts include hazardous travel conditions, especially in shaded spots, on bridges and overpasses, or on any untreated roadways.