CHARLOTTE, N.C. — State transportation officials urge people to stay off the roads as the worst of the winter storm hits North Carolina.
βEven after the storm passes, we ask North Carolinians to be patient as our crews and emergency responders do their important work to clear the roads,β State Transportation Secretary J. Eric Boyette said Sunday. βEveryone should avoid driving in these conditions. Thereβs no need to take any unnecessary risks.β
Officials say more than 2,000 N.C. crews and contractors, with more than 1,800 trucks and other motorized equipment, have been working around the clock to get roads clear.
Crews are focusing on interstates and major highways first, then moving on to primary and secondary roads.
In western North Carolina, officials say crews worked overnight and are continuing to plow snow-covered roads.
In central North Carolina, including the Charlotte area, crews have been salting trouble spots on roads and bridges since early Sunday morning.
NCDOT’s de-icing operations staff have been working overnight through Sunday.
Crews have used more than 5,800 tons of salt and 550 tons of a salt/sand mixture, and officials say those numbers are expected to increase.
Officials say while temperatures are expected to warm, the water on roads will refreeze Sunday night and make travel dangerous in western and central North Carolina.
The storm is expected to bring heavy rainfall, with potential flooding, and strong winds to the state over the next few days.
βTravel conditions are expected to be treacherous for much of the state through Monday,β said NCDOTβs Chief Operating Officer Beau Memory. βPlease stay home and donβt take the chance of driving, especially on icy or flooded roads.β
Due to dangerous winds, NCDOT temporarily suspended its three Pamlico Sound ferry routes to Ocracoke and scaled back operations on its Cherry Branch-Minnesott Beach and Southport-Fort Fisher routes.
The Currituck-Knotts Island Ferry will also be suspending operations until weather conditions improve.
