GDOT: In the high winds and strong gusts, think safety first

 

Media release:  "We are continuously monitoring current weather conditions and forecasts as extremely high winds and possible snow flurries are predicted for the mountainous counties of Northwest Georgia. Fallen trees and snow flurries are possible through tomorrow morning. Before you head out on the roads tomorrow please check the weather and road conditions, especially if you live or travel to mountainous areas," said DeWayne Comer, district engineer at the DOT office in Cartersville.

 

Possible trouble locations:

·         Bridges as black ice forms there first and can reform quickly

·         Highest elevations or gaps in Catoosa, Dade, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Walker,  and Whitfield counties

·         Fallen trees across the roadway

·         Traffic signals not operating because of power outages

·         High profile vehicles will be difficult to control in high winds

 

"Weather reports call for slight accumulations of snow in the higher elevations of the Mountains. Winds gusts up to 50 miles per hour are also possible.  So we encourage all motorists to stay off the roadways until if possible. If you must be on the roads, please exercise extreme caution particularly as you approach bridges and at higher elevations. If you approach a traffic signal that is dark with no color lit at all then treat the intersection as a four way stop by waiting your turn to move. If the signal flashes yellow then cautiously proceed through the intersection. If the signal flashes red then stop and wait for a safe time to proceed knowing the other roadway has the right of way," concluded Comer.

 

DOT will monitor conditions overnight and respond as needed, if needed overnight based on information from local law enforcement and information from the National Weather Service.

 

Georgia DOT urges travelers to exercise caution and call 511 for updated information on roadway conditions before getting on the road during a winter weather event. Georgia 511 is a free phone service that provides real-time traffic and travel information statewide, including winter weather closures, reports of icing or other hazardous conditions on interstates and state routes. Callers also can transfer to operators to request assistance or report incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. More information is available at www.511ga.org.   For more information on Georgia DOT, please visit www.dot.ga.gov or subscribe to our Press Release RSS feed.  You also may follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/GeorgiaDOT) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/gadeptoftrans).