ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today issued a message to thank Maryland Department of Transportation crews and first responders for their diligence and dedication during this particularly busy winter season.
Wintry precipitation continues to fall across the state. According to the National Weather Service, lingering snow, sleet, and freezing rain will continue into the afternoon and overnight, likely to cause significant icing.
MDOT SHA forces are fully operational, with more than 1,000 personnel and nearly 2,000 pieces of equipment responding.
As hazardous conditions are reported across the state, transportation officials are asking Marylanders to stay off of roadways to the extent possible. Motorists who must travel are reminded to clear their cars completely before driving, reduce their speed, and give snow plows plenty of room to operate.
Real-time weather information and live traffic cameras are available at md511.maryland.gov.
(Watch)
Transcript
“Believe it or not, this is now our 30th weather event of the winter season, and just in the last two weeks, we have had everything thrown at us in Maryland, from snow, sleet, and ice, to freezing rain, drifting snow, and high winds.
“I want to take a moment to thank all of the crews and first responders working around the clock to keep us safe. On average to a person, the state’s highway operations team has worked 13 hours a day since the beginning of February. They often work straight through the entire night, through weekends and holidays, and recently even the Super Bowl.
“In the middle of a global pandemic, this work is even more grueling as people have to work in isolation, make sure they disinfect everything between shifts, and minimize any and all physical interaction.
“We are going through the worst of winter right now, but these men and women are showing us the best of what it means to be Maryland strong.
“One thing that each and every one of us can do to show our gratitude to these workers and to their families is to please stay off the roads as much as possible during these winter storms, and if you absolutely must travel, we ask that you drive with caution and give our plows as much room as possible.
“Thank you, and stay safe.”
