Politics & Government

Snow Forecast For Saturday; Road Crews Gear Up

The National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather alert for an expected 3- to 5-inch accumulation beginning overnight.

Local road crews are getting ready for an expected three- to five-inch snowfall that the National Weather Service announced will begin overnight and continue into Saturday.

[To see weather conditions in Johnston, click here to see the latest on the JohnstonPatch Weatherbug page.]

Mayor Joseph Polisena said during an interview on Friday afternoon that the town's Department of Public Works was gearing up to combat the winter weather.

Find out what's happening in Johnstonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"They've got the trucks ready, the sand and salt are loaded, and they're out treating the roads as we speak," Polisena said just after 1 p.m. "We'll just say a prayer that the weathermen are wrong and we avoid having to spend that money."

One of the town's key tools in the work to keep roads safe is a brine machine purchased in 2010 — one of the first in the state. By pre-treating the roads, the town is able to save significant money on salt and sand.

Find out what's happening in Johnstonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation announced that it plans to apply a brine solution — in much the same way that Johnston treats local roads — to Interstate 95 from Exit 7 in West Greenwich to Exit 20 in Providence to keep snow from accumulating on the roadway.

When treated with the brine solution, roads appear wet, then show a series of white lines where the water has evaporated, leaving behind salt to prevent snow and ice from freezing.

“We think this new technology will keep roads clearer longer, but motorists should not expect snow-free surfaces at all times, as all storms vary in intensity,”  RIDOT Director Michael P. Lewis said in a statement. “We still urge motorists to exercise caution by reducing their speed and avoiding unnecessary travel during snowstorms.”


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