Crews Pre treat Roads - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

As the storm makes its way toward the upper Midwest and the North Dakota DOT is out doing what they can to prepare for it.

<<(Kent leysring/NDDOT Maintenance Supervisor)"Just be careful and we will pull over and let people by but we are just trying to get everything pre wetted and get ready for the storm to come."

With the winter storm on the way, the DOT is out spraying liquid de-icer to help road conditions.

(Kent leysring/NDDOT Maintenance Supervisor)"We like to spray them now so when it starts it doesn't turn instantly to ice and then it gives us a chance to get out there and get some salt and sand down then too."

They are only able to spray the liquid de-ice during specific conditions when anticipating a storm.

(Kent leysring/NDDOT Maintenance Supervisor)"There is a science. We've got a computer system that we watch closely and it'll tell us when pretreating, what the road temps gonna be, we have to watch that so that it doesn't refreeze.

The de-ice works up to 30 below zero which won't be a problem with this storm.

The DOT says they will have to stop once precipitation rates increase.

(Kent leysring/NDDOT Maintenance Supervisor) " then it will delude out and then we'll go to pure salt/sand and give you traction so you and will stay on the road longer."

Even with the DOT doing what they can for the roads, the Highway patrol says that if you must travel - know what you are getting into and be preparted

(Sgt Patrick Hudson/ND Highway Patrol) And if you don't think it is an absolute necessity to travel then your best option may be to stay home and wait till the roads get better.">>

pretreating the roads. when it gets icy - snow won't compact onto the road as much

do the bridges first then start doing the roads & I-94

do it now and it starts to rain it will prevent it from icing up.