Wake County snowplow crews begin clearing secondary roads after storm

Crews across Wake County pushed into neighborhoods Tuesday as snowplows shifted their focus from interstates and major thoroughfares to secondary and residential streets after a weekend winter storm. Officials warned that warm midday sun can turn to overnight ice with forecast lows in the teens, so cleared streets may still be slick.

State transportation crews worked across the state clearing interstates and major connectors before moving into smaller routes. NCDOT reported that Interstates 40 and 26 and U.S. 23/U.S. 74 in the mountains were clear with some icy spots by late Sunday afternoon, and I-95 in eastern North Carolina was clear by Sunday afternoon. The agency cautioned that many state-maintained roads will take several days to clear, and northeastern counties that saw more than a foot of snow will require additional time and resources. NCDOT also said fuel supplies remain in good condition and that the Division of Aviation is supporting airports as they transition back to normal operations. For assistance, residents can call 1-877-DOT-4YOU at 1-877-368-4968 or the DMV at 919-715-7000, or write to 1501 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC 27699-1501.

Local public works crews described a familiar sequence: primary roads and collectors first, then secondary and neighborhood streets. Josey Bowman, Town of Holly Springs Street Manager, said crews have been working nearly nonstop since the snow began and “will work through Tuesday or Wednesday.” Bowman added, “Our main focus here is to make sure Holly Springs citizens can travel around safely.” A Holly Springs spokesperson said crews “work their way through the roads, starting with those that have the most traffic, and slowly progressing to less-traveled routes.”

In Cary, Jimmy Simpson with Cary Public Works said crews were nearly done clearing the town and “are treating the last icy patches.” Simpson noted crews are also addressing water mains and water lines and asked residents for patience if their street has not yet been cleared. In Raleigh, plumber Josh Ransom worked on Tipton Street thawing a frozen meter and advised homeowners to heat lines carefully: “You want to heat up both sides of the meter slowly,” and “And it'll take minutes.”

Outside Wake County, Thomasville deployed eight snowplow trucks and ran a ride-along showing how teams form up. Jonathan Huggins, known as “Bieber,” described the formation: “You’ve got your lead man who usually sits in the middle of the road, then you’ve got your pickup behind him. Then I’m the pickup behind the second pickup who usually rides the curb.” Huggins said crews will focus on primaries during the day and hand off secondaries to night shifts. Thomasville officials asked residents to be patient and to report problem spots through the city’s posted contact information. “We just ask the public to be patient with us,” Poole said. “If they see something, our contact information is online. Give us a call and we’ll try to respond as quickly as possible.”

For motorists and homeowners, the next 48 to 72 hours are critical: expect delays on less-traveled streets, watch for refreezing at night, and report downed lines or hazardous patches to local public works. Crews will continue working through the week to clear secondary routes and restore full neighborhood access.