As summer is coming to an end and fall begins, NDOT has begun to get I-580 ready for the winter.
This week NDOT will be cleaning and preparing their anti-icing systems on the four bridges on I-580 between Bowers Mansion and Mt. Rose Highway.
Over the past week and a half, crews have been performing winter maintenance on those systems.
Travelers may have noticed last week that work was being done on the southbound lanes.
This week is primarily focused on northbound, but work is still expected for southbound later in the week.
Northbound will be reduced to a single lane, between Bowers mansion and Mt Rose Highway until Thursday.
Speeds in those work areas will be reduced to 55 miles per hours as people should plan for slight travel delays.
There are 100 disks spread throughout the four set of bridges south of Reno and NDOT explains how these systems help to prevent the interstate from freezing over.
“When the temperature and atmospheric readings are right with precipitation and potentially freezing temperatures those disks automatically raise and squirt and spray an anti-icing potassium acetate solution,” said Meg Ragonese, Public Information Officer for NDOT. “That helps reduce the potentially freezing level of that surface.”
The solution provides more traction for drivers on the road.
This maintenance is done every year to prepare for winter as the summer solution is being switched over to the anti-icing solution.
NDOT says even after this maintenance, while not expected, drivers may see work being done in the future.
“Well, we don’t anticipate any additional maintenance on the systems, it’s important for drivers to know that there can be highway maintenance as we continue to prep our highways for winter driving throughout the coming months,” Ragonese said.
While NDOT is preparing for winter, they say drivers should as well.
“Also this time of year we stockpile roadway salt sand for enhanced traction, prepare our equipment for winter snow removal as well,” Ragonese said. “And as individual drivers, we should be thinking ahead and doing the same to prepare our own vehicles for safe winter driving over the coming winter months.”