Motorists urged to avoid snow and ice travel

Crews for the South Carolina DOT are prepared to work around the clock and use available resources to ensure motorists are as safe as possible, in the event the forecast weekend storm materializes.  Those resources include 2,500 SC DOT employees preparing for the event; 60 thousand tons of salt; more than 525 thousand gallons of salt brine, along with about 275 thousand gallons of ice-breaking chemicals.  DOT also has contracts with private companies to place wreckers along interstates as a way to help avoid potential lengthy backups.  The state’s designated plan for winter weather emergencies has the interstates with top priority, followed by primary routes and areas near medical facilities and emergency shelters.  Drivers should keep in mind that, during snow and ice, roadway conditions turn hazardous.