Crews across state prepare for Winter Storm Brenda

WATERFORD, Conn. (WFSB) - Department of Transportation crews have been making sure their equipment is ready to go for Winter Storm Brenda.

About 900 DOT drivers will be out on the roads.

They’re responsible for clearing about 11,000 center lane miles of Connecticut highways.

DOT crews have been busy Monday putting salt in the back of trucks and getting equipment connected and ready to go.

Crews will prepare the roads with salt once the rain stops, if not the salt will wash away.

“We’re getting salt ready now not to go out and put it on the roads because the rain is going to just wash it away but it’s going to follow behind the plows when they start plowing the snow to drop it down behind them so for people that are out, the safest place to be is behind the plow. Three-hundred feet back,” said Josh Morgan, Spokesperson for the Connecticut Department of Transportation.

Once crews head out, they’ll likely be on the roads for about 24 hours.

More than 600 DOT trucks will be on Connecticut’s roadways during the storm.

More than 200 private contractors have been contacted and are ready to supplement state crews that are out. The DOT is short about 115 drivers.

The DOT has this message for the public:

“Delay travel if you can. Work from home if possible. We know that people don’t have that flexibility, maybe folks have to be out. Give yourself some extra time in the morning,” says Morgan.

If you have to be out on the roads, stay 300 ft. behind DOT trucks so they have enough space to safely do their jobs.

Snow season for the DOT runs into April.

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