The Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) is preparing for a winter storm Saturday. With forecasts predicting snow, SHA is ready to respond to all weather conditions. The predictions also include high winds with gusts up to 50 mph and extremely cold temperatures by Saturday evening.
“While the accumulations may only be one to three inches, the combination of high winds and extreme cold present additional challenges for highway crews as well as drivers,” said SHA Administrator Melinda B. Peters. “Even small amounts of blowing snow can hamper visibility and coat already cleared roadways. For the safety of work crews and everyone on the road, please travel at or below the speed limit and add travel time in your plans.”
Officials will monitor the storm from SHA’s Statewide Operations Center (SOC) in Hanover with centralized communications and access to more than 400 traffic cameras. Safety patrols operate 24-7 in the metro areas and will be on alert to assist stranded motorists. Through technology, teams will monitor pavement temperatures and road conditions. SHA emergency operations staff will post information on overhead electronic signs for motorists and communicate directly with emergency responders and state and local police.
“Drivers should exercise caution on all driving surfaces—especially ramps, bridges and overpasses—which freeze first,” added Peters. “SHA crews and contractors will spread salt to make the state roads passable and improve traction.”
Strong winds are expected; if traffic signals are not working as a result of power outages, drivers should use EXTREME caution and treat those intersections as four-way stops.
“It is very important to have a full tank of gas, a charged mobile phone, properly inflated tires, and functioning wipers with fluid; a vehicle break down in the extreme cold would be very dangerous. Should that happen, drivers can call #77 to connect to the nearest Maryland State Police Barracks for assistance,” added Peters.
Maintenance forces will add liquid magnesium chloride to salt to improve effectiveness in extreme temperatures as needed. So far this season, SHA has used nearly 115,000 tons of salt and has replenished domes and barns – with 333,000 tons available. SHA has nearly 2,400 pieces of equipment and 2,600 people statewide.
Current travel information is available through Maryland’s free 511 service – available by calling 511 or 1(855) GOMD511 from a land-line or hands-free mobile phone, or prior to travel, logging onto www.MD511.org. The website includes live traffic camera views and other travel information.
Citizens may report non-emergency issues on a State-numbered route by logging onto the SHA website and clicking the Service Request link from the “Contact Us” page.