DAMASCUS, Md. — Salt will be the weapon of choice to fight an incoming weekend storm, according to Maryland's State Highway Administration.
And a new system of mobile sensors mounted on spreader trucks will let operators and planners know when the situation turns critical.
"One degree of temperature in a mile can be the difference between wet pavement and icy pavement," SHA spokesman Charlie Gishlar said
This new system is called Mobile Advanced Road Weather Information Sensor or simply, MARWIS.
The sensors are contained in shoebox-sized pods mounted to at least 153 Maryland trucks.
Operators can see data displayed on a screen inside their vehicle allowing them to make critical decisions on when and where to efficiently put down salt and salt brine to melt accumulating ice and snow.
As a storm predicted for Saturday in the DC area approached, Gishlar said State Highway crews will begin applying a layer of salt brine on roads in western counties beginning after the rush hour Thursday evening.
Gishlar said motorists in the Central Maryland suburbs of DC and Baltimore will see bringing operations during the day Friday.
The brine is effective at keeping the snowfall expected early in the storm from forming a layer of ice.
As the storm transition from snow to freezing rain and sleet, Gishlar said crews are expected to spread a wet salt mixture to keep roads as safe as possible.
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