SHELBY COUNTY, Tenn. — Shelby County crews salted and sprayed roads and bridges for the chance of winter precipitation Wednesday.
Crews are using an infrared thermometer to make sure your commute in the morning is safe.
They’ll point the thermometer at the ground and immediately find out how cold it is.
Ken Shaeffer, the Shelby County Roads and Bridges Engineering manager, is in charge of road crews.
“We just check the temperature of the roads and the bridges,” he said.
His crew will use the thermometer again and again throughout the night to make sure the ground stays warm.
If not, he’s got some guys on standby.
As an extra precaution, road crews also sprayed a salt mixture on the roads and bridges throughout the county, because those are the first to freeze over.
They dumped 6,000 gallons of salt Wednesday, and it will protect those roads for the next 72 hours.
“Just in case something comes in, and you get a freak storm,” Shaeffer said. “It’s always better to be prepared.”
Tennessee Department of Transportation is also on standby. It too sprayed salt on highway and interstate overpasses and bridges.
“I am a teacher. I want to make sure it’s okay. I don’t want kids out and everything, so it’s an all-around precaution in my house,” Angela Rucker said.
She and many others were glad crews are playing it safe.
“It doesn’t feel like anything is coming, but I’m watching it. I’m watching the news,” Angelo Adams said.
Of course, WREG will keep in touch with crews to let you know what happens.
“I’m going to stay tuned with you guys to find out if I can go out,” Rucker said.
