GDOT crews ready for icy weather - Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5

For days the Georgia Department of Transportation has been closely watching the weather as the deep freeze moves in, and they say they're prepared.

"We have crews assigned to these shifts. We work 12 hour shifts. If we bring in a full crew, then all of them will come in and they'll be prepared to work," said GDOT's Mark McKinnon.

McKinnon says crews started preparing for icy weather months ago when temperatures were sweltering.

"We do our training in August and get out there to teach them how to maneuver these plows. It's hard to get around with plows so we train them the best we can," said McKinnon.

Two years ago, an ice storm shut down the city. The slippery roads made driving dangerous if not impossible, especially for those of us who live in the south and aren't used to icy roads.

"When it snows and it's blinding you stop. And when road gets wet you need to slow down and be a more courteous driver," said one driver.

GDOT will be trying something new to make the roads safer. McKinnon says they will be using a salt-brine mix that when applied, it prevents ice from bonding to roadways.