A Texas Department of Transportation spokesman explained despite pre-treating major roads through the Odessa District that icy road conditions are still expected.
Gene Powell, the spokesman for TxDOT’s Odessa District, said during a phone interview on Wednesday morning that due to projected rainfall before expected snowfall that some of the brine that is used to pre-treat roads will wash off the road and ice will form.
“The important thing to note is that it will rain before it snows, which means some of it will wash off and that means that we can’t prevent ice from forming,” Powell said. “There will be ice. Don’t think that it’s going to be clear roads everywhere. There are going to be ice patches.”
Powell said that pre-treatment for major roads through the Odessa District were completed on Tuesday. He also said some of the pre-treatment started on Monday.
The major roads that were pre-treated in Ector and Midland counties include Highway 191, Business Interstate 20, Interstate 20, Loop 338 and Loop 250.
Powell said it’s disheartening to know that some of the work that TxDOT put in will be washed away before the snow falls.
“It’s a little frustrating because the public’s expectation is that we will have every road clear,” Powell said. “That’s just not possible. Mother Nature wins. She wins a lot.
“If the rain washes the brine away, ice patches will form and sometimes those are really hard to see.”
Powell said a lot of the sections are going to shift work and once precipitation begins, crews will be laying down a granular material on overpasses and trouble spots. Powell said the granular material will help break up any ice that is forming. He said that process will continue through the duration of the storm.
“The best advice is to act like nothing is treated,” Powell said. “Slow way down. Make sure your brakes are in good condition. Give yourself more time to where you are going.”
Ector County Sheriff Mike Griffis said over the phone on Wednesday morning that the West Annex located at 2261 W. Sycamore Drive can be opened in a manner of minutes for people who are without heat. Griffis said the West Annex can seat about 40 to 50 people. Contact number is 432-335-3050.
“If somebody is cold, I want them to call us,” Griffis said. “We will put them in there. We have lots of tables and chairs. We have a coffee pot and a little kitchen. I don’t want anybody getting cold.”
According to a previous Odessa American article, the Salvation Army will open its doors and serve as an “emergency inclement weather temporary shelter” on Wednesday and Thursday. The shelter can’t exceed 75% capacity or roughly 40 people due to COVID-19. People will be required to wear masks.
Monica Quintero, the public relations manager for the Odessa Police Department, told the Odessa American via text message that OPD is ready to add additional officers if needed.
