Which of the following is true about roadways on bridges and overpasses in cold, wet weather?

1. They tend to freeze before the rest of the road does. ✓
2. They do not freeze because they are made of concrete.
3. They tend to freeze after the rest of the road does.

Answer: A. They tend to freeze before the rest of the road does.

In cold, wet weather, bridge and overpass surfaces tend to ice up sooner than other parts of the roadway.

Why this is the answer

The handbook lists bridges and overpasses among places that can be more slippery, and it says they tend to freeze ahead of the rest of the road. It also warns that they can have icy spots. So when the weather is cold and wet, expect those surfaces to become slick before other road sections do.

Why the other answers are wrong

• B. They do not freeze because they are made of concrete. — The handbook does not say concrete keeps bridges from freezing; it specifically lists bridges and overpasses among places that can be more slippery and icy.
• C. They tend to freeze after the rest of the road does. — The handbook places bridges and overpasses in the group that freezes first, so it does not say they freeze after other road sections.

Remember it

Think of a bridge as the first place to turn icy on a cold, wet drive.