The goal is to coat bridges and overpasses with magnesium chloride, which should prevent water accumulation from freezing.
"This solution acts like an antifreeze, if you want to think of it that way, and it will lower the freezing temperature of water, so it prevents that ice from forming a bond," Karen Othon with TxDOT said.
The Texas Department of Transportation says drivers should use the following safety tips when heading out on the roadways:
- Reduce speed. Speed limits are based on normal road and weather conditions, not winter road conditions.
- Maintain at least three times the normal following distance.
- Use extra caution on bridges, ramps, overpasses and shaded areas as they tend to freeze first.
- If you start to slide, ease off the gas pedal or brakes. Steer into the direction of the skid until you feel you have regained traction then straighten your vehicle.
Cold air mixed with precipitation may cause ice to form across our area. Stay with Eyewitness News and abc13.com for the very latest on the winter weather. Download the ABC13 weather app to get audio alerts when they're issued for your area, an interactive street-level weather map, hourly forecast and more. Get it for iPhone or Android.
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