Crews work on roads; Schools close as snow moves in

All day Monday, DOT trucks refilled their tanks with brine –– a water-and-salt mixture that helps prevent ice from bonding to the pavement – and rolled out to treat bridges and major roads before snow could start to fall.

In the Triangle, DOT crews will work first on Interstates 40 and 540 and U.S. Highways 1, 64, 264 and 401. Once snow or ice starts to accumulate, DOT will switch to using salt.

Crews in Cary and Chapel Hill were taking some of the same precautions. They applied brine to roads and bridges and loaded plows and spreaders with de-icing agents.

Local governments can be expected to clear thoroughfares first, then primary roads and through streets in subdivisions, followed by cul-de-sacs. Most towns do not clear private parking lots, including those in apartment and condominium complexes.

Frozen roadways could be a lingering problem. Temperatures will hover near the freezing mark Tuesday and dip back down Wednesday before beginning a gradual rise toward the end of the work week.