Weather
Alabama Winter Thanksgiving Travel: I-65 Salt Has Limits
Birmingham, AL – Alabama drivers preparing to travel Interstate 65, Interstate 20 and Interstate 59 this Thanksgiving may be counting on road treatments to keep highways safe if freezing weather devel
By Sophie Caldwell · 2026-11-11T19:16:27.545Z
Birmingham, AL – Alabama drivers preparing to travel Interstate 65, Interstate 20 and Interstate 59 this Thanksgiving may be counting on road treatments to keep highways safe if freezing weather develops. But there's a dangerous misconception about winter driving: Even freshly treated pavement can become icy, particularly on bridges and elevated roadways.
According to winter maintenance guidance from transportation agencies, traditional road salt becomes increasingly less effective as pavement temperatures approach 20 degrees Fahrenheit, with its ice melting ability declining further as temperatures fall into the teens and single digits.
And in a state where winter ice can develop with little warning, that distinction matters.
Why Even Treated Alabama Highways Can Freeze Road salt isn't magic. It lowers water's freezing point, helping melt ice and reduce freezing under suitable conditions.
However, as pavement temperatures fall, the melting process slows considerably. Around 20 degrees, conventional salt works much more slowly than it does near freezing. Below 15 degrees, salt alone may struggle to melt ice quickly enough to improve traction.
For motorists traveling through Birmingham in Jefferson County, Huntsville in Madison County, Montgomery in Montgomery County and Decatur in Morgan County, that limitation is worth understanding.
Major routes including I 65, I 20, I 59, I 459 and I 565 can become slippery during freezing weather, particularly on bridges, overpasses, elevated ramps and shaded stretches.
Alabama's more common winter concern is freezing rain or moisture turning to ice near 32 degrees, rather than prolonged temperatures below 20 degrees.
Thanksgiving Travel Could Increase the Stakes Thanksgiving falls Thursday, Nov. 26, bringing holiday travelers onto Alabama's major interstate corridors connecting Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery and Mobile.
If freezing temperatures and precipitation coincide during the holiday travel period, even treated highways could develop dangerous icy patches.
Bridges and overpasses deserve particular attention because they can cool faster than surrounding pavement, allowing ice to form while nearby roads remain wet.
The Alabama Department of Transportation coordinates winter weather response efforts, but road treatments cannot guarantee ice free driving conditions.
Before departing, motorists should check National Weather Service forecasts and ALGO Traffic for updated road conditions, traffic cameras and travel alerts.
The bottom line: A treated interstate is not necessarily a safe interstate. Drivers should reduce speed, increase following distances and remain especially cautious on bridges and elevated ramps whenever freezing weather develops.