City prepares for ice, snow

Published 12:04 pm Monday, March 3, 2014

As Suffolk residents hunker down ahead of yet another bout of snow, the city has rolled out a brining operation for bridges, overpasses and primary roadways, while snowplows and salt/sand spreaders are standing by.

Brining operations began initially on bridges and overpasses on Sunday, according to city spokeswoman Diana Klink.

Trucks were out again Monday between 4 and 11 a.m., Klink added, this time also applying solution to primary roadways.

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“We have deposited approximately 4,000 gallons of brine on the roadways,” Klink stated in an email.

“We are aware that some rainfall is expected and that a significant amount could activate the brine, however, we are looking at more of a rain/sleet mix initially, with the snow to begin around 3:00 p.m. and move out by 11:00 p.m. to midnight.”

Meanwhile, 18 trucks with snowplows and sand/salt spreaders would be on the road at all times.

“We will continue to monitor the forecast to schedule the sand/salt mix on the roadways,” Klink stated. “The brine will serve as a bond breaker between the roadway and ice.”

The National Weather Service predicts snow and sleet will become all snow after 4 p.m. today, with snowfall heavy at times. A total daytime snow and sleet accumulation of 1 to 3 inches was possible.

Overnight Monday, there is a chance of snow before midnight, with the temperature dropping to 15 degrees. The chance of overnight precipitation is 50 percent, according to the service, with new snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.