PennDOT reveals its game plan for the coming snow storm

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. (WPVI) -- With the first snow expected in about 30-36 hours, PennDOT Thursday morning began brining major roads, including the Schuylkill Expressway.

The salt water treatment is considered a preemptive strike.

"Once that dries, it leaves a salt residue on the surface," PennDOT's John Krafczyk told Action News. "In bigger events, it prevents snow bonding to the roadway."

That's key, because it discourages an icy buildup on plowed roads.

We spoke Krafczyk at PennDOT's camera center.

The facility's 300-plus cameras will give him and his staffers a better idea of the predicted storm's progress.

As of Thursday morning, PennDOT was preparing for a major 24-hour storm.

Among the plusses for the agency with this storm is the timing: it will be a weekend event, not affecting any rush hour traffic.

Among the minuses: it is expected the storm will last 24 hours and at times drop 1 to 2 inches of snow per hour, making it tough for road crews to keep ahead.

Krafczyk says it usually takes a plow truck 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours to make a complete circuit.

"If it is snowing 2 inches an hour by time they get back there, there will be at least 4 inches of snow on roadway," he said. "With this storm our roads with be snow-covered. It's a given."

In other words, it will be safer to stay off the roads during the pending storm.

If you must consider going out, PennDOT has a 511 website and phone app that can be tailored to track its plow trucks in real time, but only on interstate highways.