By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-806017.mp3
Dallas, TX – Street crews across North Texas have loaded sanding trucks and put drivers on 12-hour shifts to handle a possible "icy" Tuesday morning commute. KERA's BJ Austin has the latest.
A city of Dallas truck takes on a load of sand, ready to hit the icy streets. Assistant Streets Director Dennis Ware says at the first sign of freezing precipitation, bridges, inclines and major intersections are the first to be sanded. And he has this advice for motorists.
Ware: Expect black ice. Having the freezing precip on the ground and not being able to see it with the naked eye, until you're on it.
He says drivers need to slow down in icy conditions and always stay at least 50 feet behind a sand truck on the road to avoid any possible damage. Fort Worth has 15 trucks and their crews on a winter weather schedule. TxDot has hundreds of drivers, mechanics and support personnel on emergency status.