It’s déjà vu for DelDOT crews plowing and salting state roadways as they face more work Thursday night.
Workers hopped into trucks at 9 pm Wednesday to clear heavy snowfall in New Castle and Kent Counties, which prompted a rash of school and government closures.
That snow turned to sleet and rain by morning and afternoon, something that DelDOT spokesman Jim Westhoff says helped crews gain a foothold in the battle.
“The roads in New Castle County have been helped a lot by the warm weather and the rain. At 5 or 6 a.m. they were completely snow and ice covered. Now, I-95 and main roads are mostly just dry and we’re working on the secondary roads right now upstate.”
Their work isn’t done, though. Forecasters predict further snowfall upstate, accompanied by high winds and cold temperatures.
With the extra precipitation and freezing lows, Westhoff says motorists should be aware of possible icy patches on roadways Friday.
“Fortunately, we put a lot of salt down on the roads, so refreezing should not be a problem," said WEsthoff. "However, motorists should be aware that, [Friday] morning, they could wake up and find some icy spots on the road.”
Agency workers in New Castle County will plow and salt through the night, with half of DelDOT’s Kent County workforce staying on through the evening hours.
Sussex employees will avoid the late shift as little snow is expected there in the forecast.
