LILBURN, Ga. — According to the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), the state’s battle against icy roads will continue Thursday.
GDOT said in a statement Wednesday, “Temperatures well below freezing have hindered the effectiveness of brine in many areas; brine is most effective at temperatures of 20 degrees Fahrenheit and above.”
Gwinnett County was one of the hardest hit areas in metro Atlanta this week, and first responders are preparing for more calls for help.
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“We are prepping our trucks, getting kitty litter out, making sure everything has tire chains and snow chains,” Lt. Jessica Joiner told Channel 2′s Courtney Francisco.
She said drivers need to prepare too.
“If you do have to get out, make sure your gas tank is full, make sure that maybe you have blankets in your car in case you do get stranded,” Joiner said.
Statewide, Georgia Department of Public Safety said troopers have responded to nearly 2,000 calls for service since the storm hit Tuesday. Between 6:00 pm Tuesday and 4:00 pm Wednesday, troopers responded to 268 crashes and 448 motorist assist calls.
In Gwinnett County, police and fire responded to nearly 600 crashes and more than 1,800 calls for help in that time frame.
Dozens of drivers had to abandon their cars on icy roads in Lilburn Tuesday night.
Wednesday, some were able to pick them up. The city towed those remaining to the Lilburn Police Department.
Police said the city would pay for that service since drivers were left with no choice.
“Georgia DOT asks for the public’s patience right now. This is a highly unusual winter weather event impacting nearly three-quarters of the state and our crews cannot be everywhere at once,” said Georgia DOT Commissioner Russell R. McMurry. “Georgia DOT will need time, ability to access the roads to treat or plow, and warmer temperatures working in our favor to help restore and maintain passable conditions. We thank Georgia’s citizens for staying off the roads and for your patience and understanding while our crews are working around the clock.”
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