ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — As a winter storm threatens Western North Carolina, state Department of Transportation crews in Buncombe County are already preparing to keep roads open and safe, officials said Thursday.

Paul Roberts, the county maintenance engineer for NCDOT in Buncombe County, said crews have been working for days to prepare equipment, materials and staffing ahead of the storm, which could bring snow, ice or freezing rain.

“Our bunker facility and our units have been working around the clock preparing for any imminent weather,” Roberts said. “Crews have been prepping, looking at equipment, making sure trucks and plows are in good running order, just to be as prepared as possible for what may come to the area.”

Crews will begin working 12-hour shifts starting Friday morning and will continue through the duration of the storm, Roberts said. Shifts will generally run from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m., with additional personnel and contractors available as needed.

Roberts said NCDOT expects to have a few hundred workers available at any given time in Buncombe County, supported by on-call contractors stationed at satellite yards across the county. Contractors will assist with snow removal, icing conditions and clearing trees from state-maintained roads.

The department is currently mixing and applying brine — a saltwater solution used to prevent ice from bonding to pavement — on state-maintained routes, including interstates, primary highways and other high-priority roads. Salt and sand mixtures will be used later if conditions warrant.

“Our storage areas are full,” Roberts said. “We have roughly 6,000 tons of salt and sand, so we’ve got plenty of material on hand.”

NCDOT’s highest priority for treatment will be interstates 26, 40 and 240, followed by primary routes and then secondary roads. In Buncombe County alone, crews may be responsible for treating more than 1,700 miles of roadway, depending on weather conditions.

Roberts urged residents to stay off the roads unless travel is absolutely necessary.

“If you can stay at home, that’s the best way to help us keep roads open and allow our crews to work safely,” he said.

He also asked drivers to keep a safe distance from snowplows and brine trucks.

Roberts said recent repairs to roads damaged by Tropical Storm Helene have improved safety for both drivers and crews, and no specific areas have been identified as too vulnerable for winter operations.

“This is the largest storm forecast we’ve seen during my time as county maintenance engineer,” said Roberts, who has been in that position about four years. “We’re monitoring conditions closely and preparing for the worst, while hoping for the best.”