City And County Leaders Preparing For Icy Conditions From Impending Winter Storm
By: Lindsay Ward, Royce Jones and Chris Hoffman/KDKA-TV
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - The weather is going to make a mess for the next couple of days.
With reports of numerous city streets not getting plowed in a timely manner or even at all from the last time, city leaders are now saying that more snow trucks will be out.
According to Mayor Ed Gainey's office, the city is purchasing six new snow plow trucks as well as rending an additional six trucks that will help with snow removal. Through a partnership with Councilman Anthony Coghill and the Office of Management and Budget, city was able to identify $470,000 in the budget to make it all happen.
It's been a challenge for the city to clear some streets after the last snowstorm, with the city saying some of the vehicles were taken out of service for maintenance issues. Those maintenance issues bumped into supply chain issues as the city's order of 17 new trucks was delayed due to global supply chain issues.
Meanwhile, Allegheny County is preparing for the change in conditions. They have said 32 salt trucks will be out on Thursday once the freezing rain begins as well as placing down extra salt.
Pittsburgh crews will have 60 trucks on the roads Thursday, while other crews will be deployed to clear stairs, sidewalks and bridges.
The rain, snow, and ice will create a trifecta of trouble for road crews.
WATCH: KDKA's Lindsay Ward reports
"It's a lot of tracking weather, tracking temps and tracking trucks, and just being out there and trying to keep that ice down to as much of a minimum as we can," PennDOT District 10 Community Relations Coordinator Tina Gibbs said.
She said crews will have their hands full since they are not able to pretreat roads since it's starting as rain.
"A lot of it comes down to motorists using all of the defensive driving skills they have -- avoiding distractions in their cars, avoiding travel when they can," Gibbs said over Zoom.
Crews will start monitoring the roads Wednesday night. As soon as there is change over to ice, they will drop salt.
"It can be melted with salt, under the right conditions. Anti-skid can help with it," Gibbs said.
Drivers are recommended to stay off the roads, but if you must travel, leave early.
"You're running late all of a sudden cause there's ice. There's snow. There's traffic. That's going to make you more inclined to take riskier driving behaviors," AAA East Central Spokesperson Jim Garrity said.
He said you should give yourself up to 10 seconds of distance between you and the car in front of you. If you do hit ice, turn your wheel in the direction you want to go.
WATCH: KDKA's Royce Jones reports
"When it comes to weather conditions like this, that's what it comes down to. How do I keep control of the vehicle if I lose that control of it?" Garrity said outside AAA's East Liberty office.
He advises keeping a full tank of gas. If you get stranded, you can stay warm and keep devices charged.
PennDOT leaders in Allegheny County said the HOV lanes will be open for the morning commute and then closed as conditions get worse.
In Pittsburgh, the following streets will be closed beginning Thursday morning at approximately 8 a.m. until conditions allow for a safe reopening:
