INC NEWS - Durham Prepared for Wintery Mix

[Blalock, Amy]

CITY OF DURHAM

Office of Public Affairs

101 City Hall Plaza

Durham, NC 27701

 

 

News Release

 

For Details, Contact:

Amy C. Blalock

Senior Public Affairs Specialist

(919) 560-4123 x 253

(919) 475-7735 (cell)

Amy.Blalock at durhamnc.gov <mailto:Amy.Blalock at durhamnc.gov> 

 

For Immediate Release:  January 16, 2008

 

 

City of Durham Prepared for Tomorrow's Winter Weather Forecast

Motorists Urged to Use Caution Tomorrow Morning

 

Durham, N.C. - With winter weather predicted for tomorrow morning, the
City of Durham's Department of Public Works is preparing today to keep
city streets operating smoothly.

 

With the weather forecast continuing to predict imminent precipitation
tomorrow, the Street Maintenance Division of the City's Department of
Public Works has crews on stand-by, ready to immediately use six
salt-and-sand trucks as soon as the forecasted inclement weather begins.
"We are flexible and ready to respond to tomorrow's predicted winter
weather," said Katie Kalb, director of the City's Department of Public
Works.  "We are following weather reports carefully and we will be ready
to immediately respond if necessary."

 

To further prepare for tomorrow's forecast, City employees will begin
today distributing a salt brine solution on high-traffic bridges and
overpasses throughout the city limits.  Salt brine solution is a salt
and water mix that is sprayed onto the roadway surfaces before snow and
ice begins to fall, helping to prevent accumulation from bonding to the
road surface.  "We are preparing now for the forecasted weather tomorrow
by pre-treating certain roads in Durham," said Michael Balzarano,
superintendent of the Street Maintenance Division with the City's
Department of Public Works.  "We hope that the combination of the salt
brine solution and salt-and-sand trucks we have ready to roll will keep
our roadways open and passable."

 

In addition to spreading the salt brine solution, all equipment will be
fitted today with loaded salt-and-sand spreaders. 

 

The City's plan of action for clearing or reducing hazards on city
streets is prioritized in the following order:

*         Bridges and overpasses throughout the city.

*         Major arterial streets within the city.

*         Streets to essential health facilities, police and fire
stations and critical community facilities.

*         Routes to two City fuel sites.

*         Streets within the central business district.

*         Clear access to Durham Public Schools.

*         All residential areas with priority initially to passage of
emergency vehicles and then to all traffic.

 

Residents and property owners are responsible for snow and ice removal
in their driveways, apartment access roads, parking lots and sidewalks.
The clearing of private streets is the responsibility of the homeowners
within that subdivision.

 

To facilitate snow and ice removal, citizens can help by adhering to the
following tips:

*         Stay off the roads if at all possible.  If you must drive, be
sure you have good all-weather tires or chains.

*         If at all possible, park your car off the street or highway to
let salt-and-sand spreaders pass with ease.

*         If your problem is a life-or-death emergency, call 9-1-1.

 

Durham residents are also reminded to be careful of downed power lines
and may report them to Duke Energy at 1-800-POWERON (1-800-769-3766) or
in Spanish at 1-866-4APAGON (1-866-427-2466).

 

About the Department of Public Work's Street Maintenance Division
The Department of Public Work's Street Maintenance Division is
responsible for public roadway maintenance, street resurfacing, alley
and sidewalk maintenance in the city, and the maintenance of the storm
water drainage system within the City's right-of-way.  Street
Maintenance also plans and executes the City Winter Weather Plan to
reduce the hazard to traffic created by snow and ice and debris from
natural disasters. For more information, visit the City's Web site at 
www.durhamnc.gov/departments/works
<http://www.durhamnc.gov/departments/works> . 

 

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