TxDOT prepares for icy roads over the weekend

The Texas Department of Transporation is making preparations to keep drivers safe this weekend on the expressway in case the forecast of cold and wet weather holds true.

TxDOT crews are unfolding the "Ice on Bridge" signs on U.S. Expressway 77/83 from one end of the Valley to the other.

The National Weather Service is prediction wet and near freezing conditions tonight through Saturday morning in Cameron, Willacy, Starr, Hidalgo, Kenedy, Brooks, Jim Hogg and Zapata counties.

"We are preparing just in case it gets to that near freezing wet weather," said TxDOT Public Information Officer Amy Rodriguez.

The NWS has issued a special weather statement for very cold and damp weather developing tonight. The forecast calls for cold air and moisture to produce a light rainfall tonight.

Tomorrow the temperatures are expected to be in the 40's with widespread rain and areas of fog. The winds are expected to be up to 30 miles an hour. The combination of the two will lower the wind chill into the 30's.

Friday night, the rain is predicted to stop and skies will clear causing freezing temperatures for several hours and ice on the expressway overpasses. Once the sun rises Saturday morning, the freezing temperatures will disappear.

"Right now we are monitoring the weather closely and maintenance crews are preparing for the cold and wet weather," says Pete Alvarez, P.E., director of maintenance in Pharr.  

Maintenance crews are unfolding the "Ice on Bridge" signs to warn motorists of this possibility and also are preparing trucks to spread gravel mix on highways should ice begin to form over them.

For road conditions visit www.txdot.gov/roadconditions or call 1-800-452-9292