TULSA, Okla. — City crews are hitting the streets as early as Tuesday afternoon to start treating roadways ahead of Thursday’s expected winter storm.

FOX23 visited the city’s east maintenance yard Wednesday morning as crews were already preparing the gear and trucks.

“Right now, we’re just doing some final tune ups, just checking everything out,” said Tulsa’s Street Maintenance Supervisor Tim McCorkell on Wednesday morning.

McCorkell said crews will put down a salt and brine mixture on roadways Wednesday afternoon into the evening to pre-treat the roads in advance of the wintry precipitation expected to fall Thursday morning.

By 3 a.m. Thursday, plow trucks will be out in full force.

“For the shift that’s coming in the morning there could be 60-70 people,” McCorkell said. “They’ll stay out on the road until the storm has passed.”

He said crews will remain on standby through Christmas should anything unexpected arise when the storm comes.

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He reminded drivers to obey the signs on the back of plow trucks urging them to remain at least 150 feet back at all times.

“If you do come across the employees that are working to clear the streets, stay back behind them a couple hundred feet,” he said. “Do not pass the vehicles because they’re working as an emergency vehicle in an emergency situation.”

With that in mind, he says the best way to keep yourself and crews safe, is to simply avoid the roads at all costs.

“The biggest thing is, if you don’t have to be out, just stay in your house where it’s warm,” he said.

With subzero wind chills coming, the city is making sure its drivers are well-equipped to brave the elements.

“All the trucks have pretty good heaters in them,” McCorkell said. “And we supply them with clothing. So, they’ll have coveralls, winter coats, gloves, hats, whatever’s needed.”

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