ARKANSAS, USA — As you drive between Bella Vista and Alma on I-49 you'll cross over 40 bridges and overpasses. As you cross you'll usually pass a sign, that throughout most of the year, you may not even notice. The sign reads "Bridges ice before roads", so what is the phenomenon behind this?
Some of these bridges and overpasses can sit up to hundreds of feet above the ground level, creating space for air to not only run underneath the roadway but also over top. So as rain, sleet, or even snow falls and hits the bridges and overpasses it is not only cooled by air coming over the top but also from underneath.
Dave Parker from the Arkansas Department of Transportation, says that they have the ability to prepare bridges days in advance with salt brine. He also says that crews will hit bridges and overpasses with that brine multiple times, sometimes before they even get to the primary roadways.
Parker says that while crews will be working around the clock to treat all roadways, it's not just on the crews to be preventative, but drivers play a part as well. He says that drivers should first, look at the forecast to see if ice and snow will be available. If that is the case, then stop to think about how many bridges and overpasses are on your daily commute. Once you get to that bridge, he says to slow down and take precautions while crossing.
It can be hard to notice that bridges and overpasses have ice on them, especially during the overnight hours so it's important to remember to slow down this winter when crossing bridges.
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