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Why You Might See Snow Plows With Their Blades Up

Written on: January 3rd, 2014 in Alert Messages, US113, Weather Related Notices

Delaware Department of Transportation snow plows are assigned to plow specific roads, and they must travel quickly, but safely, from one assignment to another. With their plows down, trucks travel more slowly and might need to stop at each crossroad. Further, if a road has been recently salted, driving with the plow down might remove salt that has been applied to help melt snow and ice.

Tags: #snowDE, #stormDE

DelDOT Scaling Back Road Crews Overnight

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 darkness and dropping temperatures slowed progress, the Delaware Department of Transportation scaled back road-clearing crews in New Castle County shortly after sunset. DelDOT will reduce road-clearing crews in Kent County at 8 p.m. and will reduce road-clearing crews in Sussex County at 9 p.m. Partial crews will remain on duty throughout the night to monitor conditions and to respond to emergencies. Most road-clearing crews will return to work on Saturday morning as temperatures rise.

Tags: #snowDE, #stormDE

DelDOT Battles Drifts And Near-Zero Temperatures

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, Weather Related Notices

Across Delaware, DelDOT crews continue to battle drifting snow and frigid temperatures. The major challenges now are winds that blow the snow back into the roadways and low temperatures that cause the road salt to be less effective.

Primary and secondary roads statewide are covered in a thin layer of packed snow and ice.

Despite these challenges, more than 400 men and women, employed by DelDOT, continue treating the roads with salt and plowing the snow. These crews worked all day yesterday, and through the night.

Residents are urged to stay off the roads if possible. Not only is it safer for residents, but it allows DelDOT crews more area in which to work safely.

Tags: #snowDE, #stormDE

What To Do If DelDOT Damages Your Mailbox Or Other Property

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

The Delaware Department of Transportation takes every reasonable precaution to minimize or prevent any damage to public or private property during any of its operations. However, if your property was damaged, please call 1 (800) 652-5600.

Tags: #snowDE

What To Do If You Get Stuck #snowDE

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

If your vehicle becomes stuck in snow and ice, please follow this advice from the AAA:

Do not attempt to free your vehicle by using raw power. Rapid or forceful pressure upon your accelerator will often result in your vehicle digging its wheels into a deeper rut.

Use smarts and finesse instead.

First, clear snow away from the tires. Then, to improve traction, spread sand, cat litter or some kind of abrasive material around the drive wheels. Finally, shift the car into low gear, and apply slow, gentle pressure to the accelerator.

If you are unable to free your vehicle, and you are in a life-threatening situation, call 911. If your situation is not life-threatening, and you must travel, please call the appropriate emergency operations center.

Sussex County Emergency Operations Center: (302) 855-7801

Kent County Emergency Operations Center: (302) 735-3474

New Castle County Emergency Operations Center: (302) 395-2700

Tags: #snowDE

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.

Tags: #snowDE

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

Tags: #stormDE

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.

Tags: #snowDE

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.