City DOT Has Game Plan For Salting, Sanding El Paso Roads

As temperatures continue to drop, the big concern becomes the roads.

Freezing temperatures mean freezing streets!

An ABC-7 crew spent the day with City of El Paso Department of Transportation crews preparing for a late night and an early morning while getting ready for the worst.

“I’m hoping we get a good start early in the morning,” said Daryl Cole, director of the City of El Paso’s Department of Transportation, who plans to have employees start sanding and salting streets early. “Their target is to actually hit the roads at 4 a.m., be out in the areas we suspect are going to get hit first and get those dirty before 5 a.m.”

Cole said if it hits earlier, his crews will be ready.

“We have 10 dump trucks and eight salt spreaders ready to go,” he said.

The biggest concern, of course, is the overpasses. That’s because the air gets underneath, causing them to freeze more quickly, and even after they’re salted or sanded, it can remain slippery. So the best thing to do is to approach them with caution.

“Our first priority is the bridges,” Cole said. “Second priority is just getting to the hospitals. So bridges, hospitals, then police department, fire department and then you’re looking at schools.”

ABC-7 asked several drivers Monday afternoon if they were concerned about the weather, but none seemed too worried.

“You know, I think people will be all right,” said El Pasoan Lonnie Williams.

“We just have to cope with it, I guess,” said El Pasoan Joe Delgado.

Cole had this warning for drivers.

“Just drive slow, be careful,” Cole said. “If you see something that looks slick, just ease into it, don’t brake, use common sense as you go through things and if you don’t have to go, don’t go!”

Transmountain Drive has already closed. And Cole said you can probably expect Scenic Drive to close as well.

TXDOT is in charge of clearing the freeways. They report they’ve already started sanding. The city will take care of the other major arteries.