Preparing for the storm

(ABC 6 News) – MnDOT says they took advantage of the weather Thursday afternoon to prepare for the snow that will falling Thursday night into Friday morning.

“They’ll be out shooting the bridges and ramps on I-90 and on the outskirts, we’ll be doing the bridges and ramps as well,” said MnDOT Supervisor Derrick Crews.

MnDOT says that is they can get out a head of the storm and pretreat it makes it a lot easier and safer to plow once the snow falls. Which is what workers were doing Thursday afternoon. Warmer temperatures and calmer winds also create better results when the treat the roads with rock salt and liquid salt known as brine.

“As if it’s cold and windy and blowy we ain’t gonna put much out cause it ain’t gonna do nothin,” said Crews.

Even though crews have been out pretreating, doesn’t mean roads will necessarily be in good conditions once the winter storm hits. Drivers say you have to use common sense.

“I mean slow down, we’ll get there eventually,” said Noah Crabtree.

Those who drive the plows say you need to have patience and give them space. “Just stay back, pass when it’s safe, watch for snow clouds. The biggest thing is to make sure they have their headlights on. It makes it a lot easier to see and don’t crowd the plows,” said Crews.

And if you don’t have to drive, don’t. And let the plows do their jobs.

“I-90 is scary but when those plows are out, they do a pretty good job,” said Crabtree.