Kannapolis spreading brine, preparing for storm
Published 1:48 pm Thursday, January 5, 2017
KANNAPOLIS – The city of Kannapolis Public Works Department is ready if winter does decide to send us snow. Crews have been busy hooking up snowplows to trucks and loading the salt spreaders. Brining on the streets began this morning.
The city uses a salt brine system on the streets before a winter storm event to reduce ice sticking to the roads. Brine is applied to bridges, and problem road areas such as those with hills.
Due to the sheer number of residential streets (over 340 miles) and a limited number of plows, the city concentrates its efforts on prepping and maintaining all major streets – especially those which lead to public facilities, such as hospitals, urgent cares, fire departments, the police department and schools.
“These are heavy and difficult pieces of equipment to operate safely. A plow adds nearly 8 feet to the front length of a truck,” said Public Works Director Wilmer Melton. “Motorists should be careful and give our crews plenty of room to work safely,” he added. “We encourage citizens to stay home. With the prediction, of not only snow but ice, the safest option is for everyone to stay off the streets.”