| Rain,
flooding, snow didn't stop Loudon County from quickly treating icy roads The wet conditions make it more difficult to treat roads when a freeze comes in, but Loudon County had everything under control within a few hours.
LOUDON COUNTY, Tenn. —
Loudon County, like much of East Tennessee, experienced rain,
flooding and snow all within a few days. The Highway Department was
able to quickly care for the roads in the county before conditions
were too bad.
With wet conditions that lead into freezing ones,
water often doesn't have time to evaporate. This makes it difficult
for crews to keep roads safe.
Assistant Loudon County Road Superintendent Billy Pickel said the snow was a change of pace for crews.
"The last couple for days we've been dealing with
rain and high water and not necessarily focused on a snow removal
operation," Pickel said.
When the freeze hit, the usual problem areas in the
county were at the top of the department's list.
"We have those roads that have the bridges, that have
the shady spots, marked and we go to those first," Pickel said.
Bridges, like the one connecting Hwy. 11 and downtown
Loudon were pre-treated by TDOT. That's because things like bridges,
overpasses and interstate on ramps tend to ice first.
The crews were able to have everything under control
in a few hours, considering this is the first big snow event of
2020.
"We've been able to see you know, what's working,
what's not," Pickel said. "This was the first round, hopefully the
last."
Any time when it's colder outside, it's a safe bet
not to assume roads are automatically safe. Take extra caution when
travelling, especially on bridges and overpasses.
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2/10/20