DOT revamping winter weather plans

ATLANTA - The last several days have been nothing but sunny and warm, but north Georgians can rest assured, winter is on the way.<br /> <br /> The Georgia Department of Transportation is well aware of what just a little bit of ice and snow can do to roads in metro Atlanta and north Georgia, so agency officials have been working on a complete revamp of DOT's winter weather plan, according to spokeswoman Teri Pope. While all the pieces of the plan haven't been finalized, Pope said some key components are coming together quickly.<br /> <br /> "Part of the process was identifying locations closer to the interstates where we can stage materials and equipment so that we can get to those interstates faster and serve them better," said Pope.<br /> <br /> Salt barns are being built right now at the closed rest area on I-985 northbound near Oakwood and on I-85 near the Braselton/SR 53 exit.<br /> <br /> Previously, all the ice and snow-melting materials for the two interstates had been stored at the Gainesville District Office on Athens Highway, which meant equipment had to be trucked several miles to spread those materials on icy spots on the highways. <br /> <br /> Pope said a number of state agencies have been comparing notes to make sure the plan is solidified well before any winter precipitation might arrive.<br /> <br /> "We will [also] have a couple of practice runs in late November," said Pope. "Typically, we don't have any winter precipitation until mid to late December."<br /> <br /> As far as any predictions for the severity of the coming winter, Pope was non-committal, but she said whatever comes, GDOT will be more prepared than ever to handle it.<br /> <br /> "We always keep an eye on the weather...especially our guys who work the mountains," said Pope. "The bottom line is nobody can really tell the weather this far out, but we're doing everything we can to prepare."