Inland counties prepare for winter weather potential

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — As the winter storm moves closer to the area, the NC Department of Transportation gears up to make sure roads will be safe.

The National Weather Service issued a Winter Weather Advisory for several counties in the area through Tuesday morning as a winter storm tracks closer to us.

The NCDOT says it is ready for the night ahead in Bladen and Columbus counties.

“Tonight what we plan to do is have a small crew in both counties to monitor bridges for freezing and also to answer any calls from the highway patrol or emergency services,” DOT District Engineer Drew Cox said.

They say they have the necessary back-up plans just in case the weather takes a turn for the worst.

“We are looking to bring in folks in Bladen County in between 3 or 4 in the morning to begin spreading salt,” Cox said.

Any accumulation can make bridges, overpasses and roads slick.

“Say for example US 74 or the bridges we have over the Cape Fear River in Bladen County, those high elevation type bridges, but any type of bridge deck with concrete is going to freezing before asphalt would on the roadways,” Cox said.

Bladen County has brined all major highways. Cox says Bladen County has 10 salt spreader trucks, and Columbus County has seven ready to go.

You should plan to add extra travel time in the morning. If you hit an icy patch and begin to slide, take your foot off the gas and turn the steering wheel in the direction of the slide.