Winter Storm Prep: Public Works Monitoring Forecasts
Wednesday, January 8th, 2024
With a winter storm watch in effect for Whitfield County and forecasts indicating snow or ice may be on the way Friday morning, the Dalton Public Works Department has a plan in place to prepare City streets on Thursday afternoon. Department leaders met Wednesday morning with the team of drivers who operate the City's salt brine trucks to review plans and preparations.
Caption: Members of the Public Works Department's winter storm team met Wednesday morning to review plans for an anticipated snow storm
The latest weather forecasts are calling for winter weather to arrive in Dalton on Friday morning, January 10th, potentially around 7:00 am. The Public Works Department is planning to start the salt brine trucks on their routes around lunchtime on Thursday, January 9th to pre-treat the roads. The operation focuses efforts on the City's main arterial roads first before preparing secondary roads and residential streets. However, plans are in place to prepare all of the City's roads before the storm hits. The Public Works Department will have crews on standby ahead of the storm on Friday morning to ensure there is ample staff available to respond to whatever weather situations arise. Earlier this week, the Public Works Department operated all of the salt brine trucks and equipment to ensure everything is in working order and also filled all of the salt brine tanks with approximately 8,000 gallons of the solution.
The City of Dalton uses the salt brine treatment instead of spreading gravel and rock salt. The brine solution can keep ice from forming on treated roadways. If ice does form, or in snow events where snow or ice do accumulate on the road, the brine keeps it from bonding with the pavement and sticking. That way, plow trucks can easily clear any accumulated snow or ice. You can read more about the City's salt brine operation by clicking here.
Even though the Public Works Department will be working throughout the storm to keep Dalton's roadways as clear and safe as possible, City leaders urge residents to restrict non-essential travel in the event of snow or ice. If at all possible, please stay off of the roads and stay home instead.
