City crews plow and salt roadways ahead of threat of black ice
By Rochelle Moore
Published in News on January 5, 2018 8:22 AM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
As Goldsboro crews worked to plow the roads after snow fell on Thursday, so did the North Carolina Department of Transportation. Pictured is one of N.C. DOT's snow plows cleaning off a roadway in Wayne County.
Goldsboro public works crews worked throughout the day Thursday to salt and plow city roadways before nightfall when any snow is expected to refreeze.
Rick Fletcher, Goldsboro public works director, said black ice is expected this morning with little thawing as temperatures remain near freezing during the day and drop into the teens, if not lower, in the evening.
"Over the next few days, I don't see it dissipating because of the weather, and especially the shaded areas," Fletcher said. "Early morning travel is going to be hazardous."
City streets, except for major thoroughfares, including Wayne Memorial Drive and Berkeley Boulevard, remained covered with snow and ice Thursday, with some thawing.
Many streets and neighborhoods remained covered in snow, as city crews worked in priority areas, including bridges, overpasses, hills and highway entrance and exit ramps, first. City workers focus on streets throughout Goldsboro, while the N.C. Department of Transportation works on interstates, highways and main thoroughfares in Goldsboro, including Wayne Memorial Drive, Ash Street, Spence Avenue, Berkeley Boulevard and Royall Avenue.
As soon as snow started falling Wednesday night, city crews salted many roads, which were later plowed after several inches of snow accumulated, around 2 a.m. Thursday.
"When the snow started falling, they put salt down," Fletcher said. "When the snow started to taper off, they started plowing.
There were (snow) drifts out there that were 7 to 8 inches."
Four snow plows were put on the streets, with two that usually serve as backup due to the age of the vehicles. Crews worked on several main roads first, including Elm, Walnut, Mulberry and William streets, and then onto secondary roads, including Slocumb, Westbrook and Harris streets and Dixie Trail. Crews then moved on to other roadways including Audubon Avenue and Beech, Best and Jefferson streets.
After clearing the roads, crews work on interconnecting roads, neighborhood streets and outlying areas of the city, including Central Heights, Mimosa Park and Hunter's Creek.
"We try to get the heart of the city first and then branch out," Fletcher said.
City repair crews responded to several water line breaks Thursday and made repairs to water main breaks on William Street and Pineview Avenue and other service line breaks on Dakota and West Pine streets, Fletcher said.
Public works employees were sent home by 4 and 5 p.m. Thursday and were not scheduled to return to work until 7 a.m. Friday. City crews will continue to clear roads today and will be off during the weekend, except for emergencies, Fletcher said.
"We'll have people on call duty if we have problems," he said.
City trash pickup will take place today but also be on a two-hour delay. City of Goldsboro offices and departments are also on a two-hour delay, with plans to open by 10 a.m., said Randy Guthrie, Goldsboro assistant city manager.
Even though snow is expected to freeze overnight, salt and plowing will continue where needed.
"All that melted slush is going to turn to ice," Fletcher said.
"We'll reapply salt in problem areas. Once we've scraped and applied the salt, that's the extent to what we can do."