Little Rock, Arkansas – As Arkansas braces for a major winter weather event expected to hit Friday afternoon, crews from the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) are fully prepared to keep roads safe and passable. The storm, which follows a period of fluctuating temperatures across the state earlier this year, is expected to bring a mix of snowfall, sleet, freezing rain, and ice, potentially creating hazardous travel conditions for motorists statewide.
“Our crews are prepared and ready to face the incoming winter storm,” said ARDOT State Maintenance Engineer Deric Wyatt. “Crews will begin pretreating roads and bridges today and will begin 24-hour operations on Friday with 12-hour shifts. We’re closely monitoring conditions across the entire state and we will be ready for whatever this weather system brings.”
ARDOT has been preparing for winter weather since the beginning of 2026. The department started the year with a stockpile of 78,000 cubic yards of salt, distributed among 121 salt houses across Arkansas. These supplies, along with a fleet of 700 snowplows and 600 salt spreaders, will be deployed as needed to maintain safe road conditions during the storm.
In addition to the standard maintenance teams, ARDOT’s Strike Team has been activated. This specialized team consists of roughly 75 employees drawn from statewide maintenance crews. Their role is to support district crews in the pretreatment of highways and interstates and to assist with clearing roads in areas heavily affected by snow and ice. The Strike Team’s coordinated efforts ensure that critical routes remain open and safe for emergency services and essential travel.
Officials are urging residents to avoid travel during the storm if possible. “If you must travel, reduce speeds, stay alert, and carry necessities such as an ice scraper, bottled water, a phone charger, hat, and gloves,” ARDOT advised. Travelers are encouraged to monitor real-time road conditions using the IDriveArkansas website or app. By activating the winter weather layer, indicated by the snowflake icon, users can track which roads have been treated and which areas remain potentially hazardous.
The upcoming storm highlights the importance of preparation and early intervention. Pretreatment efforts, including spreading salt and applying brine on bridges and overpasses, are designed to reduce the risk of ice formation and improve traction. ARDOT crews will work in shifts around the clock, covering urban and rural routes alike to ensure that motorists have safe passage wherever travel is necessary.
“This system is expected to impact the entire state, so early planning and resource deployment are key,” Wyatt added. “We are ready for long hours and challenging conditions to make sure Arkansans can travel safely and communities remain connected.”
Residents can find additional information about road conditions, safety tips, and ARDOT’s winter preparedness measures on IDriveArkansas.com or ARDOT.gov. With the storm approaching, officials continue to emphasize caution and preparedness, urging the public to respect travel advisories and plan accordingly.
As winter grips the state, Arkansas’ transportation crews are standing by, salt and plows ready, to face the storm head-on and keep the roads moving safely through the unpredictable weather ahead.
