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Drifting, Low Temps Challenge Road Crews

Written on: January 3rd, 2014 in Alert Messages, Safety, Weather Related Notices

Road temperatures throughout Delaware are below freezing and falling toward zero, a range in which salt melts ice and snow less effectively. Adding to the hazards on state roads is continuous drifting in New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties. As a result, driving conditions remain hazardous — even on the primary roads that the Delaware Department of Transportation has plowed and salted. Despite clear skies, DelDOT recommends that motorists avoid driving unless they must drive. Anyone who must drive should maintain slow speeds and caution.

DelDOT Working Through The Night To Clear Roads

Written on: January 3rd, 2014 in Alert Messages, Safety, Weather Related Notices

Dover — With morning rush hour approaching, many roads throughout Delaware are snow covered, despite Deldot crews working through the night.

More than 400 DelDOT employees have spent the night plowing and salting roads, and will continue working all day today.
Residents are urged to stay off the roads if possible, today, not only because roads are snow covered, but also because the extremely low temperatures are also a hazard.

Jim Westhoff
DelDOT Community Relations Officer
Desk — 302 760-2160
Mobile — 302 943-3589

If You Must Drive, Follow This Advice #snowDE

Written on: January 3rd, 2014 in Alert Messages, Safety, Weather Related Notices

While ice and snow remain on Delaware roads, the Delaware Department of Transportation advises motorists to avoid driving unless they must drive. And anyone who must drive should heed the advice of the AAA:

• Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Starting or stopping rapidly increases the likelihood that you will skid.
• Drive slowly. Even at normal speeds, maneuvering on slick roads could cause you to slide out of control.
• Maintain a distance of eight to 10 seconds behind the vehicle you are following. You might not be able to avoid an accident if you follow only two or three seconds behind another vehicle — as you would on dry pavement.
• Know your brakes. If your vehicle does not have anti-lock brakes, snow and ice might cause your brakes to lock up if you forget pump your brakes as you stop. But if your vehicle does have anti-lock brakes, use steady firm pressure to stop your automobile.
• Don’t stop if you can avoid it. Putting your car in motion after a full stop is more difficult than accelerating after merely decelerating. If you can slow down enough to keep rolling until the light changes, do it.
• Don’t power up hills. Applying extra gas on icy or snow-covered hills often results in wheels spinning without traction. Rather than press the gas pedal as you try to climb, increase your speed slightly before you reach the slope ahead of you. Then, as you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed down hill as slowly as possible.
• Don’t stop on a hill. You might not be able to get enough traction on a slippery hill to start moving again.
• Make sure your headlights are on. In fact, it is a good idea to turn on your headlights any time you drive, because you will be more visible to other drivers in any conditions.

Snowfall Ending; Hazardous Conditions Remain #snowDE

Written on: January 3rd, 2014 in Alert Messages, Elkton Road, Ellendale, Georgetown, I-95, I-95 Delaware Toll Plaza, I95/SR1 Interchange, Indian River Inlet Bridge, Kent, Milford, Millsboro, New Castle, Railroad Crossings, Route 1, Route 26, Route 40, Route 54, Safety, Sussex, US113, US301, Weather Related Notices

As of 4:30 a.m., the National Weather Service reports that steady precipitation is ending. No new accumulation is expected, although snow flurries could linger for a couple of hours. Temperatures might drop as low as 0 as the day progresses. Temperatures well below freezing and high winds will likely contribute to hazardous driving conditions. Snowfall between four and seven inches, in addition to wind-driven drifting, have required the Delaware Department of Transportation to focus on primary roads. As a result, secondary and back roads will receive limited attention today.

Snow Deepens; DelDOT Targets Primary Roads #snowDE

Written on: January 3rd, 2014 in Alert Messages, Elkton Road, Ellendale, Georgetown, I-95, I-95 Delaware Toll Plaza, I95/SR1 Interchange, Indian River Inlet Bridge, Kent, Milford, Millsboro, New Castle, Railroad Crossings, Route 1, Route 26, Route 40, Route 54, Safety, Sussex, US113, US301, Weather Related Notices

As of 4:07 a.m., the Delaware Department of Transportation reports that all of its snow-removal crews are active, plowing and salting roads while precipitation continues to fall on New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties. Four to six inches of snow lie upon roads in New Castle . Four to seven inches of snow lie upon roads in Kent. And two to six inches of snow lie upon roads in Sussex. Crews are focusing their efforts on clearing and treating primary roads and bridges. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning statewide. Such a warning means significant amounts of snow, sleet and ice are expected or occurring. Strong winds are also possible. This will make travel very hazardous.

All Roads Snow-Covered; All Snow Crews Busy #snowDE

Written on: January 3rd, 2014 in Alert Messages, Elkton Road, Ellendale, Georgetown, I-95, I-95 Delaware Toll Plaza, I95/SR1 Interchange, Indian River Inlet Bridge, Kent, Milford, Millsboro, New Castle, Railroad Crossings, Route 1, Route 26, Route 40, Route 54, Safety, Sussex, US113, US301, Weather Related Notices

As of 12:20 a.m., Delaware roads are covered with snow as deep as four inches in parts of New Castle and as little as half an inch in parts of Sussex. All DelDOT snow-removal crews are busy, plowing snow and spreading salt on primary roads, secondary roads, bridges and bus routes.

Prepare Your Vehicle For Risky Travel #snowDE

Written on: January 2nd, 2014 in Alert Messages, Weather Related Notices

As snow falls throughout Delaware, drivers should avoid unnecessary travel. But, if you must drive, the AAA advises that drivers take these precautions:

• Clear snow and ice from your vehicle’s roof, hood, windows, trunk and any other surface covered by debris. Not only will clearing snow and ice from your vehicle improve your ability to see while you drive. It will also prevent debris from blowing off of your vehicle and onto the windshields of vehicles driving nearby.
• Use an ice scraper to remove snow and ice from external mirrors in addition to all windows.
• To ensure that you can see as well as possible, clean the inside and outside of your windows with a rag and cleaning solution, especially if you smoke.
• Be sure that you windshield defrosters and rear-window defrosters are in good working condition.
• Check the condition of your windshield wipers. If they are not in good shape, replace them with blades appropriate to the season.
• To avoid carbon monoxide fumes, do not warm up your car in an enclosed space — such as a garage.

DelDOT Crews At Work In New Castle / Kent, Monitoring Sussex #stormDE

Written on: January 2nd, 2014 in Alert Messages, Weather Related Notices

DelDOT is plowing snow and salting primary and secondary roads in New Castle County. Primary roads there are wet, while secondary and minor roads are snow-covered.  Full crews are at work in New Castle. DelDOT is salting primary roads and bridges in Kent County. All roads there are wet. Full crews are at work in Kent. The department is monitoring roads in Sussex County. Roads there are wet. Full crews are expected to begin work on Sussex roads at about 10 p.m.

Warning And Advisories Now In Effect #snowDE

Written on: January 2nd, 2014 in Alert Messages, Weather Related Notices

A Winter Storm Warning is now in effect in New Castle County and will remain in effect until 1 p.m., Friday. According to the National Weather Service, four-to-six inches of snow are expected in the county. A Winter Weather Advisory is now in effect in Kent and Sussex counties and will remain effect until 1 p.m., Friday. According to the National Weather Service, four-to-six inches of snow are expected to fall in Kent, and two-to-four inches of snow are expect to fall in Sussex. One-to-two inches of snow are expected to fall in the southernmost part of the state and in areas near the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean. Gusts of wind up to 35 mph might cause drifting snow and cover roadways.

DelDOT Crews Ready To Respond

Written on: January 2nd, 2014 in Alert Messages, Weather Related Notices

DelDOT crews in New Castle and Kent expect to begin responding to winter weather about 4 p.m. Crews in Sussex will be on-call all night. #stormDE