ODOT prepares for winter
Mother Nature can be fickle in northwest Ohio as evidenced by ODOT’s annual winter equipment inspection held at the Lucas County garage in Maumee on November 10.
While ODOT employees were busy checking equipment inside, the weather outside was in the lower 70s with blue skies and a bright sun shining down on a fully stocked rock salt storage shed.
Although the day was warm, crews knew winter would soon be upon the area as evidenced just two days later when a cold front ushered in a measurable snowfall Continued from page 1 that covered grassy areas, but left roads–the pavement warmed from a mild fall–only wet.
The Maumee garage, like all ODOT District 2 facilities in northwest Ohio is ready for winter, said Mark Bressler, highway management.
He noted that the garage is equipped with a full-time staff ready to plow the roads but is continuing to look for seasonal help. “We have 12 now. We’re looking for 35,” he added.
At the garage, they have 13 trucks that have been converted to snowplowing duties this winter and a stockpile of 5,900 tons of rock salt.
The Wood County garage is equally prepared with 19 trucks and 4,000 tons of salt. Additionally, the Northwood outpost, which also serves Lucas and Wood counties, has 15 trucks and 6,700 tons of salt, and North Baltimore, serving Wood and Hancock counties, is stocked with 6,000 tons.
As in years past, salt prices varied depending on the location in Ohio. ODOT districts 7, 8 and 9 in southern and southwest Ohio paid among the highest prices, in excess of $70 per ton, and southeast areas such as Athens County paid more than $80 per ton.
Kelsie Hoagland, public information officer, explained that the cost has a lot to do with the terrain of the region and ease of shipping, not necessarily weather conditions. She pointed out that in the snow belt region of Lake, Geauga, Ashtabula, Portage and Trumbull counties in northeast Ohio, the cost for rock salt ranged from $44.35 to $52.46 per ton.
Lucas County paid $53.65 and Wood County, $54.78 per ton. The majority of Ohio’s 88 counties purchased rock salt from Cargill, with the remaining 29 counties obtaining it from Morton Salt.
Andrew Beaverson, transportation manager, believes ODOT crews are well prepared for a northwest Ohio winter. Statistically, ODOT has 234 trucks in northwest Ohio for use with 557,230 gallons of liquid deicer on hand to pretreat highways.
Many of the trucks carry two plows, a front and belly, while others have a wing plow, explained Mr. Beaverson.
He noted each plow has its application: the front for most snow events; the belly for snow packed on the roadway, and the wing for clearing multiple lane routes, shoulder, ramps and road intersections at interchanges.
All trucks are equipped with GPA/AVL units which collect location, material and equipment usage data to aid in storm management, he said.
To further aid the department, there are 37 road weather information systems located strategically throughout the district within highway rights-of-way.
The data collected is used by plow operators and transportation managers to aid decision making in response to winter weather, Mr. Beaverson noted.
ODOT officials remind motorists to exercise caution when driving in wintry conditions and near snowplows. Drivers should decrease their speed and give operators plenty of room to work. In addition Ohio’s Move Over law requires drivers to move over a lane or slow down when approaching a stationary vehicle with flashing lights.
Motorists also are reminded to visit the OHGO smartphone app when traveling the state this winter. The app provides updates on traffic situations and is delivered directly to cell phones.
~Jane Maiolo
