WILMINGTON, N.C. -- With the threat of snow and ice on the way for the coast this week, NC DOT crews are preparing to keep the roads safe.

Crews have already placed more than 75,000 gallons of brine on the roads to try and reduce icing. The pre-treatment is a mixture of salt and water.

Crews start treating interstates and highways first. They then move on to secondary streets and neighborhoods. Officials said bridges and overpasses usually ice over first and even with a four wheel drive vehicle, navigating the roadways could be dangerous.

“Any snow or any ice is always significant and people need to drive with caution and provide plenty of room for operators in the trucks,” said Gerard Taylor, NC DOT.

DOT said they’ll have extra crews and snow plows on stand-by in case conditions get worse.