PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Road crews are keeping a close eye on the weather today.

They are already prepping for the ice and snow mixture that’s set to move into the area this evening.

Although it’s been a battle delayed, the City of Pittsburgh is moving its heavy artillery in to take on Old Man Winter’s opening barrage.

“Our guys are coming in 10 o’clock on a regular evening shift,” said City Public Works Director Rob Kaczorowski. “Depending on the weather, we’ll get a jump on it. We’ll probably go out and pre-treat some of our difficult cobblestone, brick, ridge ramps and overpasses with a salt, calcium chloride mix.”

Kaczorowski says the biggest concern for crews is ice.

“Ice is our biggest concern. Not only is there an influx of injuries from people walking on sidewalks and steps, but it’s not as noticeable as snow,” Kaczorowski said. “People on the roadways see street that appears to be wet and really it’s ice.”

Keeping with the whole war scenario, the best ammo against snow is salt and that appears to be good to go.

“We’re well prepared with salt,” he said. “The little bit we did use this year, we’ve replenished it. As soon as we use it, we order more.”

It is true we’ve gotten a bit of a break from winter’s full punch so far, but Kaczorowski says it had to happen eventually

“Sure, it’s Pittsburgh,” he added.

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