ALDOT Actively Preparing for Potential Winter Weather

Montgomery-The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) is actively preparing for a potentially high impact winter weather event this coming weekend. Hazardous conditions, including snow and ice, are expected to develop, and ALDOT is monitoring forecasts and coordinating with our partners in an effort to prepare and respond as effectively as possible.

While forecasts are constantly evolving, this winter storm is expected to bring snow and ice in the form of freezing rain and sleet across much of the northern half of Alabama, with the heaviest snowfall currently expected north of the Tennessee River.

Here’s what you need to know about ALDOT’s preparations and how you can stay safe:

ALDOT’s Winter Weather Preparations

• Monitoring Conditions: ALDOT personnel are actively tracking weather forecasts and roadway conditions, particularly in areas expected to experience the most severe winter weather impacts.
• Pretreatment Plans: Depending on conditions, crews may pretreat roads to minimize ice formation. It is important to note that this is highly dependent on whether rain precedes or accompanies the wintry precipitation, as rain can wash away pretreatment materials.
• Prioritizing Roads: ALDOT prioritizes bridges and interstate highways first, followed by U.S. and state highways based on traffic volume.

Tips for Motorists

ALDOT urges motorists to take extra precautions when driving in winter weather conditions. Here are some important safety tips:

• Avoid travel until conditions improve: Once winter precipitation begins, ALDOT urges motorists to avoid travel during adverse weather and roadway conditions.
• Slow down: If travel cannot be avoided, reduce your speed and increase your following distance, allowing extra room to stop. Plan additional travel time to reach your destination.
• Be aware of black ice: Bridges and overpasses are particularly susceptible to black ice, which is a clear layer of ice that is not visible to drivers.
• Avoid sudden braking and steering: These actions can cause your vehicle to lose control.
• Turn on your headlights: This will make your vehicle more visible to other drivers.
• Avoid using cruise control on icy roads: This can cause you to lose control of your vehicle if you hydroplane.
• Watch for workers: Be aware of emergency personnel and crews treating and clearing roadways.
• Move crashed vehicles: In the event of a minor crash, safely move vehicles off the roadway if possible to maintain access for first responders and treatment crews. Do not abandon vehicles in travel lanes.

Stay Informed

Motorists are encouraged to stay informed about road conditions and visit ALDOTNews.com, ALGOTraffic.com or download the ALGO Traffic app, as well as follow ALGO Traffic on X (formerly Twitter) and ALDOT on Facebook. Follow regional operation accounts on Facebook and X for more local information:

• ALDOT North Region Facebook, X (formerly Twitter): (Cherokee, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marshall, and Morgan counties)
• ALDOT West Central Region Facebook, X (formerly Twitter): (Bibb, Chilton, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Marion, Perry, Pickens, Sumter, Tuscaloosa, Walker, and Winston counties)
• ALDOT East Central Region Facebook, X (formerly Twitter): (Blount, Calhoun, Chambers, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Jefferson, Randolph, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega, and Tallapoosa counties)
• ALDOT Southeast Region Facebook, X (formerly Twitter): (Autauga, Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Coffee, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Dallas, Elmore, Henry, Houston, Geneva, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Montgomery, Pike, and Russell counties)
• ALDOT Southwest Region Facebook, X (formerly Twitter): (Baldwin, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Marengo, Mobile, Monroe, Washington, and Wilcox counties)