SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Travelers through Central Illinois will likely deal Friday night and throughout the day Saturday with some slick roadways.
Paul Wappel, Illinois Department of Transportation Public Information Officer, said crews would be out early and often, and not back into the garage until the proverbial damage could be fully assessed.
“The snow plows are out,” he said late Friday afternoon.
“They’re in Peoria County, Tazewell County, Knox County, [and] Woodford County, and we expect to have crews working on the roads until at least midday [Saturday], but more likely [Saturday] night.
“IDOT will certainly be monitoring the road conditions because, with the temperatures expected to drop overnight Saturday into Sunday, the roads could certainly be very icy overnight Saturday, early Sunday morning, and throughout the day, depending on the temperature.”
He said the work began before a single snowflake fell.
“We had our IDOT trucks out since late [Friday] morning, pretreating bridges and overpasses, and the roads, as well, putting down liquid spray in anticipation.”
Wappel also issued a public service announcement.
“Please be careful. Take your cell phone, make sure it’s charged, buckle up, watch your speed, and please, we ask, don’t crowd the plows.
“You might try to pass a plow — we hope you wouldn’t do that — but you might see the plow, but they might not see you. And if you do get past a plow, the road in front of the plow is not going to be as good as the road behind them.”
