NJDOT Prepares for Coming Storm

With the National Weather Service calling for 1-3 inches of snow beginning after 3 p.m. this afternoon, Jan. 25, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) is making preparations to clear the area.

A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for a large portion of southern New Jersey, including Atlantic City, Ocean City, Long Beach Island, Cape May Court House, Hammonton, Moorestown, Mount Holly, Jackson, Millville and parts of Pennsylvania and Delaware. Strong winds and a low of 17 degrees are expected for Friday night.

“NJDOT crews will be out in force to make the evening commute as safe as possible, but it important for motorists to use good judgment and exercise caution as they head home tonight,” NJDOT Commissioner James S. Simpson said Friday afternoon.

NJDOT began pretreating roadways with brine solution Friday morning, in an effort to begin the melting process as the snow is falling, Simpson said. He added that NJDOT crews and contractors are prepared to work as long as necessary to make sure roads are safe. This includes all 13,000 lane miles of interstate and state highways, Simpson said.

According to Simpson, NJDOT crews are prepared with an “ample amount of supplies” to combat accumulation, including rock salt, liquid calcium and salt-water brine solution, as well as about 500 trucks for plowing and spreading salts.

About 1,400 contractor plows and spreaders are also available to assist in the cleanup, according to Simpson.

Each of the three NJDOT Regional Emergency Operations Centers are ready for cleanup and salt spreading is scheduled to begin by mid-afternoon, Simpson said.

NJDOT has 37 remote weather stations set up around the state that provide road and weather information for specific regions of the state. This includes information concerning air temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, road and bridge surface temperatures, whether the pavement is wet or dry, whether the salt has been applied and the type and intensity of precipitation, Simpson said.

NJDOT is advising travelers to allow for extra travel time, use caution and avoid unnecessary trips. NJDOT and State Police are working together to ensure public safety, and those using the roads are advised to remain behind snow-fighting equipment and not attempt to pass trucks, Simpson said.

NJDOT reminds residents it is state law to make “all reasonable efforts” to remove snow from their vehicles’ roofs, trucks, hoods and windshields. The law also applies to the roof of a cab and the top of a semi-trailer, trailer or intermodal freight container, as far as trucks are concerned, Simpson said.

Real-time traffic information, including weather-related incidents, is available by calling 511 or online at 511nj.org.