TDOT crews weigh in on weather preps this week

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — There were several crashes Monday amid all the severe weather.

On Tuesday, News 2 checked in to see how crews with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) are working to stay prepared and ready to respond in severe weather conditions.

In our region, the agency covers 26 counties between state lines and officials said they have prepped things, like chainsaws and skid steers, to help clear any debris from trees. Additional help trucks are available if need be.

While conditions can vary depending on the weather from county to county, TDOT officials told News 2 that engineers and teams from each district are in constant communication about their area roads and what’s needed.

They closely monitor the forecast and, barring extreme severe weather like snow and ice, officials said they don’t typically bring in extra crews. There is also a new part of their response plan now in effect on Nashville interstates – it’s called a performance spaced maintenance contract.

“We have our help operators and we have our usual staff, but for the interstates we’re actually using these contracts for work that we may not be able to get to, and that is their sole job. These contractors and workers, that’s all they’re doing is making sure to conduct maintenance on the interstate. That’s important to this topic because they are responding to things like drains that might get flooded, or trees that are blocking lanes,” said Rebekah Hammonds, community relations officer for TDOT.

The agency is also encouraging drivers to drive slowly in wet conditions and to be aware of ponding on roadways.

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