TDOT preparing roads ahead of predicted winter weather

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — With Arctic air set to settle in Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky over the weekend and into next week, area transportation agencies are prepping the roads.

As of publication, temperatures are predicted to be well below average, which could lead to slicker conditions on area roadways. News 2 spoke with Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) officials about their plans.

On Friday, crews were brining some bridges, overpasses and other hot spots. Officials told News 2 that the region encompassing part of Middle Tennessee is stocked with roughly 477,000 gallons of brine and 67,000 tons of salt.

“Our crews are actually already out brining some of the roadways [in] Davidson County and also north of I-40,” Erin Zeigler, a regional communications officer for TDOT, said. “We’re also heavily brining a construction zone in Humphreys County. It’s an I-40 bridge project.”

Brining the overpasses and bridges on their primary routes and keeping a close eye on the forecast as it updates are two important steps Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimode Infrastructure (NDOT) officials told News 2 they’re taking as well.

This work includes using 40 snowplow trucks, nearly 10,000 tons of salt, 100,000 gallons of brine solution to help pre-treat the roads and 40,000 gallons of calcium chloride which helps to heat the salt up so when the temps drop it can still melt ice. At this point, all drivers are on standby and ready to respond.

NDOT assistant director Phillip Jones told News 2 the city is also working to keep several vital routes clear.

“We have 31 primary routes and they’re pretty much the connecting routes throughout town like Briley Parkway, Old Hickory Boulevard, Harding Place,” Jones said. “…This is to be able to provide the emergency services and snow routes for WeGo.”

As work on the roads gets underway, TDOT officials have also drivers to stay alert for workers.