COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (KMTV) — Iowa Department of Transportation began prepping for Tuesday's snow storm days in advance.
"We’re watching the forecast days ahead of the storm not only to see what the specific track is going to be but trying to get a handle on what type or precipitation we’re going to see, amounts of precipitation. Trying to get a handle on timing as to what part of the state are going to be affected at which time," Craig Bargfrede, Winter Operations Administrator for Iowa DOT said.
Because the storm started off with snow they were able to prep the streets, as opposed to the storm beginning with rain. The DOT began spreading brine over the streets Monday, which prevents the snow from sticking to the pavement.
"It allows us to clean the pavement much easier much faster and more efficiently, so we’re able to get the roadway more to a near normal winter driving conditions much faster as compared to if it started out as rain. We would not have been able to pre-treat the roadway as much because the rain would have basically washed off all our material." Bargfrede said.
Bargfrede suggests in weather conditions like this to stay observant while out on the roads, especially if traveling behind a snow plow.
"They need to make sure that they need to watch because we can make some abrupt movements from time to time so just operate with caution," Bargfrede said.
He says to slow your speeds while driving in the snow as well as driving without any distractions like phones.
