Crews will pretreat all major roads in the Coastal Bend including I-37, U.S. 77 U.S. 281, U.S. 59, SH 286, SH 358.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Governor Greg Abbott is mobilizing statewide resources as freezing weather threatens to create hazardous conditions across Texas.

With freezing temperatures expected in South Texas, preparations are already underway across the Coastal Bend. One of the biggest concerns remains road safety, especially bridges and overpasses that can freeze first.

TxDOT crews spent Wednesday preparing equipment and materials in anticipation of freezing rain and forecast low temperatures.

Here at the TxDOT maintenance yard, crews are already hard at work preparing for whatever mother nature brings our way in fact they are going to be heading out Thursday morning to start pre treating bridges and overpasses in a ten county area.

Crews are filling trucks with brine, a water and salt solution that helps slow and prevent ice from forming on roadways.

Rickey Dailey, TxDOT Corpus Christi District Public Information Officer, says the brine tanks are ready to go.

“Right here our crew is hooking up the brine tank, it holds 20,000 gallons.”

Beginning Thursday and continuing into Friday, TxDOT crews will pretreat all elevated structures including bridges, overpasses and direct connectors across the area. This includes the JFK and Nueces Bay causeways and the Nueces River Bridge. The Harbor Bridge developer will pretreat the Harbor Bridge.

The pretreating process is a fast-moving, mobile operation designed to have minimal impact on traffic. Drivers are asked to allow at least 200 feet between their vehicles and the mobile convoys distributing the pre-treatment materials.

Dailey says if ice begins to form, crews will switch to using ice rock.

“Into our dump trucks into this box there’s a spreader on the back that basically acts like the machine you use to fertilize your yard. “

Bridges and overpasses are the primary focus because they freeze first, but TxDOT crews will also move on to major highways, including I-37, Highway 77 and U.S. 281.

Emergency Operations Ramp Up This Weekend

On Saturday, TxDOT will implement 12-hour shifts, ensuring crews are available around the clock to immediately respond to changing road conditions.

Crews will pretreat all Tier I roads in the district, including:

Elevated structures will be retreated as needed. Barricades will also be pre-staged at entrance ramps along major corridors in case road closures become necessary.

City leaders say they are also ready to respond if freezing conditions impact local streets.

Ernesto De La Garza says new de-icing equipment will allow city crews to respond more quickly than in past cold weather events.

“Acquired 3 brand new distributors rocksalt chip spreader they get installed in the back of a pickup truck so they’re really quickly deployed so that’s a new addition to public works,” said De La Garza.

The preparations are part of a broader mobilization effort to ensure essential city services remain operational during the cold weather.

TxDOT urges drivers to take extra precautions if wintry conditions develop:

Avoid unnecessary travel if conditions warrant.

Be extra cautious on bridges, overpasses, ramps, turns and shaded areas.

Reduce speed and allow extra travel time.

Increase following distance between vehicles.

If you begin to slide, ease off the gas or brakes and steer in the direction of the skid.

Be patient, travel times may increase.

If stranded, remain in your vehicle and call 911 to alert emergency services.