DOT: Roads are a mess. Stay home!

Georgia DOT urges motorists to stay off the roadways. Hazardous driving conditions continue throughout Georgia. Department of Transportation crews are active throughout affected areas but Georgia DOT is urging motorists to stay off of highways as conditions are likely to continue to deteriorate until both the sun and temperatures rise. The Department advises the public to refrain from all but absolutely necessary travel until midday at the earliest.  Traffic has hampered Georgia DOT crews from treating the roads and clearing incidents; Department officials are hopeful minimal traffic Wednesday will allow for a full recovery. GDOT crews are spreading a salt/rock mixture on all bridges and road surfaces. Currently classified as temporarily unpassable are Interstate 75 NB near Rumble Road in Monroe County; Interstate 75 NB/SB between mile markers 197 and 207 in Butts and Lamar Counties, SR 155 at SR 42 in Henry County. Crews are working all locations. The Department continues to ask the public to stay off the roadways until midday Wednesday at the earliest. Traffic could impede the ability of GDOT crews to reach areas that need to be treated. Motorists who must travel should be extremely cautious. Slow down considerably; allow extra distance between yourself and other vehicles, maintain a steady speed; avoid lane changing and sudden acceleration or braking. Crews are working throughout West Central Georgia. These following locations are hazardous, icing has been reported and crews are working in these areas:· Interstate Highway 75 in Bibb, Peach and Butts counties;· Interstate Highway 85 and I-185 in Troup, Muscogee and Harris counties;· Interstate Highway 85 and State Routes 154, 16 and 34 in Coweta County;· Interstate Highway 75 and State Routes 3, 19/41, 20, 74, 138, 155, 920 and 42 in Henry County;· Interstate Highway 75 and State Routes 16, 3,362 and 92 in Spalding County;· State Routes 92, 279 and 85 in Fayette County;· State Route 137 in Taylor County;· State Routes 116,354 and 190 in Harris;· State Routes 27 and 190 in Meriwether County;· State Routes 1, 22 and 219 in Troup. Motorists should not pass a DOT dump truck spreading the salt/stone mixture, as stones may get kicked up at their cars and could break windshields. Please follow at least 100 feet behind DOT vehicles and never pass a Georgia DOT, contractor or local government truck treating the road.  Georgia DOT urges travelers to exercise caution and call 511 for updated information on roadway conditions before getting on the road during a winter weather event. Georgia 511 is a free phone service that provides real-time traffic and travel information statewide, including winter weather closures, reports of icing or other hazardous conditions on interstates and state routes. Callers also can transfer to operators to request assistance or report incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week.