COLUMBIA COUNTY, Ga ()- All week state and local governments have been preparing the roads for possible ice and snow on Friday.

In Columbia County, the Roads and Bridges Department is ready to go to help keep drivers safe.

Icy roads aren’t something we regularly worry about in the CSRA, so most people don’t know how to drive on them.

Columbia County Roads and Bridges has a fleet ready to go. They have 6 salt trucks and 2 gravel trucks.

The salt helps melt the ice and the small gravel scattered on the roads help increase traction for drivers.

Tim Holloway, Roads and Bridges manager, said bridges are the first thing they usually focus on.

“Because of it being suspended in the air and being wet that that’s usually the first thing to freeze. And that’s why most of our concern first instead of the roadway,” he explained.

Holloway added there is a team on standby ready to go if the sheriff’s office calls.

“They monitor the situation, if they see where the bridge decks are starting to freeze. They will notify our on call person and then from there our process will be put in place and teams will be called in. And then we will start in two separate directions, taking care of the the bridges.”

If you have to be on the road today, avoid bridges if possible and drive slowly. And if you hit a patch of ice, DO NOT slam on the brakes, instead life your foot off the gas pedal.