Rain keeping crews from treating roads ahead of winter storm, streets might get slick
Wichita drivers could be navigating slick roads during the after-work commute as winter weather rolls into the area.
Rain falling throughout the afternoon has kept city workers from pre-treating streets ahead of freezing precipitation and snow forecasted for the area this weekend, the city said Friday morning.
The region could see one to two-tenths of an inch of ice accumulation before sunrise Saturday, the National Weather Service said in a tweet. An inch or two of snow is also in the forecast.
“We did not put brine on the roadways because ... the rain that’s expected to come down and is starting to come down would have washed that saline solution off the road,” said Ben Nelson of the Wichita Public Works and Utilities Department.
He said the city is hoping for a “small window” between when the rain stops and the freezing precipitation begins so “we may be able to do some pre-treatment of bridges, maybe even intersections and hills and curves.”
If that happens, city crews will start dropping a salt-sand mixture on the roads, he said.
If not, the city’s 60-plow fleet will be out in full force at 4 p.m.
You can track their progress at www.wichita.gov/snowremoval.
“Hopefully Mother Nature cooperates, and the freezing rain doesn’t start until a little bit later than the forecast,” Nelson said.
Nelson and Wichita Police Department spokesman Kevin Wheeler encouraged people to stay home unless they need to be out Friday evening and Saturday morning to avoid any potentially hazardous road conditions.
For those who do need to travel, authorities suggest:
- Making sure windows and windshields are clear of ice and snow
- Slowing down, especially at curves, bridges and intersections
- Increasing following distances between vehicles
- Braking early
- Accelerating slowly and forgoing cruise control
- Make sure you have a full gas tank and an emergency that includes blankets, snacks and water, flares and a flashlight in case you get stranded
This story was originally published January 10, 2020 at 2:11 PM.
