Saturday, January 30, 2010 2:05 pm

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Transportation and Tennessee Highway Patrol continue to advise motorists to stay off area roadways this weekend unless travel is necessary. TDOT continues to work to keep roads clear of snow and ice after Friday’s powerful winter storm.

Crews have been out salting and plowing roadways since early Friday morning. Despite these efforts, patches of snow and ice remain on roadways across the state with concentrated areas of heavy snow in some places. Most interstate exit and entrance ramps also remain slick.

Nashville area roadways continue to be covered with layers of snow, ice and slush. TDOT Help trucks in Nashville reported working nearly 300 incidents by 2 a.m. Crews in middle Tennessee have used approximately 6,000 tons of salt and 525,000 gallons of salt brine in an effort to remove snow and ice from roadways.

Incidents of black ice have been reported in the southern part of the region, particularly along I-24 in Rutherford County and I-65 from Williamson County to the Tennessee/Alabama state line. Interstates in rural mountainous areas of east Tennessee also continue to be slick and motorists should use extreme caution. The Tennessee Highway Patrol advises drivers to stay off the roads unless necessary.

“If the public doesn’t absolutely need to be out on the road for an emergency, they need to stay home and avoid travel due to slick roadways and icing conditions,” stated THP Commander Colonel Mike Walker. “Please do not call dispatchers to ask how the road conditions are because all roads are either snow covered or have icy patches due to
freezing, thawing and refreezing. Calls to our dispatchers to ask for road conditions are taking them away from emergency calls to respond to crashes or help stranded motorists.”

Motorists seeking roadway conditions information should dial 5-1-1 from any land line or cellular phone or visit the TDOT web site at www.tn.gov/tdot/tdotsmartway. Motorists should only dial *THP in the event of a roadway emergency.

“Our crews have been out working around the clock and will continue to work until the roadways across the state are clear, however we are advising motorists to stay home this weekend,” said TDOT Maintenance Director Greg Duncan. “If motorists must get out, we advise them to use extreme caution, especially around snow plows. Snow plows may slow down
suddenly or change lanes quickly and they’re usually spreading salt from the back of the truck, which can damage vehicle paint.”

TDOT is working to try to ensure roads are clear by Monday’s commute, however heavy snowfall in Middle Tennessee combined with cold temperatures means travel will remain treacherous throughout the weekend.

TDOT reminds drivers, when there’s ice and snow, take it slow or just don’t go.