ATLANTA — Officials in Georgia are asking drivers to stay off the roads Friday as they prepare for potentially dangerous road conditions with a winter freeze setting in overnight from Thursday into Friday.
The Georgia Department of Transportation commissioner, Russell McMurry, laid out a pre-treatment plan for state routes and interstates that GDOT will undertake over the next couple days, as Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency as a precaution.
Here's an outline of those plans:
When the roads will be worst
It's possible there will be some precipitation late Thursday evening which has the potential to turn to ice as the freeze sets in Friday morning. The worst times would essentially be after midnight, and into the early AM hours of Friday before the sun comes up, so something like 12 a.m.-7 a.m.
But GDOT asked people to stay off the roads in general on Friday.
"Certainly on Friday morning we ask that you not go out," McMurry said. "If you see a roadway t hat looks wet on Friday morning or Friday, assume that it is frozen."
What roads will be treated
- All state routes and interstates, north of a line from Columbus to Augusta
- I-75 from Macon as far north as the Tennessee border
McMurry cautioned that local roads, such as those in your neighborhood, are unlikely to get treated - unless your city or county does its own treating.
When the roads will be treated
- State routes beginning Wednesday afternoon and into Wednesday evening
- State routes continuing Thursday and interstates beginning at 7 a.m. Thursday
McMurry said in particular that for Thursday traveling they "ask for your patience while you're out and about" as brining trucks will be on the road.
A GDOT release notes the brining trucks travel 40mph to apply the brine, and drivers are asked to stay 100 feet behind them.
Where are they starting?
- Northwest and northeast Georgia Wednesday afternoon, and then state routes in the south metro starting Wednesday evening.
Anything else?
- I-75 and I-85 express lanes will close at midnight Thursday and remain closed through Friday morning until conditions allow them to be reopened.