we're joined now on the phone by penndot's charlie metzger to talk more about the work they've already done, and trying to stay ahead of the snow. we've heard great things from our crews on the roads got in early and keeping them clean. good morning. >> good morning, how are you? >> doing well, thank you. what efforts have been made to keep those roads clean for folks head today work and school this morning? >> well, we've had our crews come in yesterday. we had 393 crews come in, we did salt brining on the major roadways, back on the secondary roads so, for the most part the fact secondary roads little snow covered, but they've been treat. the main highways tend to be clear, wet so motorist cans move around with just take your time, get where you are going, you should have no problem in the morning commute. we'll have our crews in, stay over during the course of the day, take care every icy spots should they appear, then head into the nighttime storm with 3934 trucks. we had the ability to bring in more than 400 trucks. so we'll have plenty of material plenty of manpower, to make sure

. >> this is charlie metzger from penndot good it is charlie. sorry. >> that is okay. >> we just read prompter and it said gene but it is really charlie, good morning. >> good morning. >> how is gene doing charlie. >> genies hunkered down in the office, he has been working hard. >> so i didn't just make that up, there is a gene with penndot. >> yes. >> you guys have been working hard. your people to the east in new jersey and to the north, they have road restrictions, travel restrictions, not necessarily so in pennsylvania, right. >> no, there is in road restrictionness pennsylvania. >> how do the roads look right now though. >> the roads look good. they are clear and wet. some of the secondary roads might be snow covered. we have a largest snow fighting force of the season out on the roads. we have over 430 trucks. we brought them in last night. they will work through the morning rush since there is a few inches of snow still left in the forecast and since the forecast has been downgraded a little bit we have gone from a plowing operation to mo

let's go to charlie metzger joining us on the phone right now. charlie, good morning to you. >> good morning. >> so in my drive to work today i saw you guys lined up on the schuylkill expressway red i to go there. this year at least, you have not had to spring into action not as much as lar year. >> so far, we have been fortunate to have a little lighter winter season then we had last year but we have 300 trucks out on the roadways, this morning, they were out at midnight, and we have a hundred thousand tons of salt on hand, ready to go at it, a as much as we can. the right now we're seeing mostly rain in most spots. temperatures are above freezing in most areas, and closer to the city, but as you get further out north and west as bob was saying you just got to take your time because freezing rain can come down at any time. >> and, with the rain does that wash away, a lot of what you have done with the salting and brining or doing it stay there on the roads to keep things from freezing over. >> well, the salt brine that we put down fit is a snowst

we will talk to charlie metzger in a moment from penndot. the schuylkill expressway looking good. crews are waiting in the wings. they are strategically placed salt trucks, you will see them on the the drive-in. water in main break near saint david,ville know of, matsonford road is blocked at the off ramps from 476. so ballagomingo road is your best bet. coming in from south jersey no problems or delays at all. we have had a sewage grates problem yesterday on the 42 freeway. that has been repaired. there is in problems at the moment, coming in toward philadelphia. and a the speedometer readings looking good on route one rolling through delaware county, looking good through west chester. bridges are fine. mass transit running with in delays. chris and lauren back over to you. >> bob kelly, thanks very much. we have been saying it. snow is on the the way. the road will be back. tough to handle. penndot is already on the job though. >> joining us on the the phone to get an update on how things are going by way of preparation at least at this point is charlie metzger good morning, cha

our good buddy charlie metzger. what are you seeing? where is heavier snow right now if you can call this heavy. >> well, snow is moving from the south to the north. it is starting to tapeer off traffic is moving steady and slow. people are getting to their destination with minimal problems. we have our crews out. we have over 300 trucks out on the highway right now. they will be out during the remainder of the storm through the after a noon rush. >> charlie, do you think all 180 trucks are out busy working in this storm. >> welshing we brought in some contractor trucks so we have over 300 trucks outside on the roadway. they are all shooting making sure road are clear and if they have a plow push ought to the side they are doing that also. >> you said things are moving well, but it is cold out there so the snow, will it turn to ice, will it happen later today or into tonight. >> we had two crews work. we have our crew that came on at midnight and crew at noon time today and they will work throughout the evening, and hours, to make sure

. >> so charlie metzger is joining us on the phone right now and charlie i heard the salt trucks in my township going through my residential neighborhood. so glad to see that they are being pro active here because we saw the deadly mess yesterday. >> yes, that is correct. we have had crews outside overnight. we have had over a hundred trucks out right now, they are salting, and they are hitting the the problem area. we're get something calls for some icy areas, in bucks county, and in some spots in montgomery county but we have had over a hundred trucks out in the five county region. we ha,e had trucks outside overnight and we will continue. got thing is today is being a nationality holiday, we will experience a little lighter rush hour then normal. so, people will be safer staying at home and if you have to venture outside today take your time, leave plenty of space between you and the vehicle in front of you have and if you come across one of our plows, stay behind the plows. your safe place. don't try to pass the the plow. let him do his job. >> yesterday, we were watching imaging c

all right charlie metzger from penndot. we will talk to you soon i'm sure. >> thank you. >>> we will continue coverage of the winter storm, coming up... >> live look at the radar, as you can see not too much bad right new but take a look down where sue serio went to college. >> where? >> towson. >> they are starting to get hit. >> much more straight ahead. >>> who is this. >> i know song very, very well. this is dave matthews. here's why i know the song. first time i ever kissed my lovely wife laura this song was playing in the background. >> hey. >> and then art imitate wife, yes, it is all about the craziness of raising kid, day to day, the rat race, and man, are we in the thick of it right now as a family. >> so true. >> i can tell you stories, sue serio. >>> we are looking live at philadelphia international airport. 4:47 is the time. i just talk to bob. he said in delays at this point but around 5:30 or 6:00 we could get hit with some delays and cancellations with the storm coming. >> you meant 5:30 or 6:00 not 5:30 or

. >> we made national news charlie metzger, yesterday. first of all what was your response to yesterday morning. >> we have had 180 crews in. we were anticipating a little heavy rain storm with a little precipitation. we had crews out since yesterday. we have 180 crews out this morning. we have been salting continuously. you can see from your camera ankles, traffic cameras that the road is wet or dry and motorist are moving along, at a safer pace then yesterday but if you have to go out be careful, leave plenty of time between you and car in front of you. don't pass a plow truck. the let douse our jobs. we will be out applying salt throughout the morning rush until temperatures rise and this situation is okay. >> of course, it can be tricky when you have a wet roadway and cannot tell that difference between wet roadway or black ice. have you seen any incidents yet this morning. >> we have no word of any accidents but we have reports of icy areas in bucks and montgomery counties which we have our trucks going out and taking care of those i

joined on the phone by penndot charlie metzger to talk more about the work they've already done, heardeat things from the crews on the road, charlie, roads really are ready. good morning. >> morning, how are you? >> doing well. so what exactly has penndot done up until this point to make sure that the roads are clear for all of the folks going on them today? >> we started yesterday where we had our salt brine operation in full swing. we had 393 trucks in, and that was during the overnight hours. we were brining during yesterday. we were getting our trucks loaded up with salt, getting our plows on getting them ready to hit the roadways as soon as the snow started to fall. >> explain to everyone the brining process, what's it do, why put it down before all of the activity happens? >> solar salt, and water and we are able to apply it through spray bars off our trucks first level of salt our first layer of defense that prevent snow and ice from bonding to the roadways. >> we want to give all of these trucks room. you don't want to be too close to them when driving behind them? >> you want

. >>> charlie metzger is on the line. lie, what is going on at penndot. >> we have been up since yesterday doing our salt brining operation and we have 393 trucks overnight getting loaded up with salt, getting you mr.s on and dispatched to the the snow starting to fall this morning we were able to get the out in front of the storm and get some salt down and start plowing when necessary. >> is preparation different this time since we have smaller storm and big one that is coming. >> we handle it the the same way since we knew you this storm was starting out as snow. we did the brining operation. we will have residual salt on the grounding in from today, into tonight's storm. we won't to have do the brining operation but we will have trucks outside on the highway and they will be out throughout the major storm tomorrow. >> one of your trucks was in an accident, is have been okay. >> as far as i know, we're checking in to see, the details of that. >> yes. >> what was the other thing i was going to ask you. oh. could you remin

. >> let's check with charlie metzger. we have not talk to him since last winter. hi charlie from pen done. >> hi mike how are you. >> alex holley sitting in for her first snow coverage. >> enjoying her first snow coverage. >> this one is mild. i'm enjoying it. >> she's turning around going oh, isn't it pretty. okay. so i don't know if you ever use the press which your crew but do you see any problems. >> the snow is just starting to fall and it is starting to make contact with the roadways. so we had our 182 state trucks in at midnight last night and we were able to get our first application of salt brine down early. so as morning rush starts to get a little heavier, we're urging motorist to drive at a reduced speed, allow additional time to get to their destinations a and maintain at least twice the distance between themselves and the vehicle in front of them. >> that is a good shot right there. turnpike. maybe i am not sure exactly where that is. >> no. >> what exactly thinks brine mixture, do you cook it up in a big vat. >> we do, actually, it is 20 percent to s

. >> let check with charlie metzger over there at penndot. is it going. >> good mike, how are you today. >> good any trouble spots. we have some icy parts in the upper part of the montgomery county and northern part of the chester county but by and large, i just made my commute from bucks county and montgomery county and i didn't have too many issues. couple slow spots on the turnpike but got here in plenty of time. >> any trouble spots out on the road. >> we have over 320 trucks out on the highway right now. they have been out since midnight putting down plenty of material this is a salting operation rather than a plowing operation because of the precipitation that is coming down but crews have been out since midnight staying out in front of it and we have been saying repeatedly and you guys have been saying also, give yourself plenty of time. don't tailgate. leave plenty of distance between you and the car in front of you. >> you would think putting out the solution that the rain would mix it up too. >> we're putting down rock salt. it is n