MINNEAPOLIS— On the penultimate weekend before Christmas, a sloppy and slippery storm will greet drivers in central and southern Minnesota.
Awaiting his arrival will be a fleet of orange defenses.
‘We have that in District 7 83 plow wagons and all our plow trucks will be gone,” said Scott Morgan, the assistant district engineer for maintenance in the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s District 7, which covers Mankato and southwestern Minnesota.
His crews, as well as those around the metro, will begin pre-treating roads at nightfall and in the morning. It’s a tactic that’s effective against snow, but that’s not the only expected precipitation.
“If this is rain, that pre-treatment material will be washed off the road,” he said. “Because temperatures are very close to freezing, we will see some areas where it will snow and other places it will probably rain.”
This means that the pre-treatment works well in one area, but not so well in others. The fact that the wintry mix starts at night only increases the danger for motorists hitting the road in the early morning hours.
As for the metropolitan area, MnDOT said there was salt residue on the roads earlier this week from applications, meaning the highways have already been primed. Motorists will see them as white spots on the roads. However, plow drivers will still be on the road pre-treating trouble spots such as bridges, curves and slopes ahead of the storm.
Whether it’s snow, sleet or freezing rain, Morgan says drivers should plan ahead, such as checking 511 for road conditions.
“Base your trip based on (511) conditions. If (the roads) are partially or completely covered in snow or ice, leave a little earlier, give yourself some time to drive a little slower,” he said.
Drive safely if you must, or just wait until late Saturday or Sunday when this pesky storm appears in the rearview mirror.
Jeff Wagner
