MnDOT responds to icy road conditions

MANKATO, Minn. (KEYC) -Saturday’s icy weather event forced many drivers to shake off the winter driving rust, and the same goes for MnDOT.

The department spent much of Friday night pre-treating the roads before addressing the icy rain early this morning.

MnDOT said that the first few weather events of the season are always more difficult as drivers need to remember their winter driving rules of slowing down and increasing follow-distance, and MnDOT themselves have to get their staff re-adjusted to the road-clearing routine.

The department said that freezing rain in particular is some of the most difficult to deal with.

”Freezing rain is harder than six inches of snow. We’ll go through a lot more product now than we normally would but it’s just constant and it takes a while to get it off so everybody’s got to be a little patient, drive a little slower. We’re there, it just takes time,” said MnDOT’s Bryan Lillie.

MnDOT wants drivers to check 511 before heading out for up-to-date road conditions.

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