ODOT Crews Gearing Up for Winter Weather

MARIETTA, OH - Most Ohioans aren't thinking about snow and ice yet, but that's not the case at the Ohio Department of Transportation. ODOT is making sure its equipment is ready for another winter.

Live in Marietta? Click here to subscribe to our free breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox and mobile devices. Follow Marietta Patch on Facebook and Twitter, and download our free Patch mobile app on Android or iPhone.

Statewide, nearly 300 mechanics are conducting 150-point checks on everything from the plow blade to the salt spinner on each truck in the fleet.

"The goal is to try to reduce our down time when the snow actually hits, so we don't have trucks sitting in the garage being worked on during an active snow and ice event," said ODOT District 10 Highway Management Administrator Bert Tooms.

In addition to trucks, ODOT District 10 is ready for winter with more than 48,000 tons of salt on hand.

Statewide, ODOT has more than 3,300 drivers who often work 12 hour shifts during snow events.

ODOT’s goal is to have primary routes back up to speed within 2 hours and secondary routes within 4 hours of the end of a snow event. Crews hit that goal 95 percent of the time last winter.

Last winter, crews drove 9.1 million miles, using 759,866 tons of salt and 20.6 million gallons of liquid deicers. In ODOT District 10, crews drove 509,523 miles, and used 49,775 tons of salt and 1,302,971 gallons of liquid deicers.

A total of 46 plow trucks were struck statewide last winter, underscoring the importance of drivers giving plow trucks plenty of room to work.

"Our employees work hard during the winter to keep roads as clear and as safe as possible, and we ask that drivers be patient and not crowd them," said ODOT District 10 Deputy Director Darla Miller.

ODOT District 10 is made up of Athens, Gallia, Hocking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Vinton, and Washington Counties.

####

This news release was written by Ashley Rittenhouse. Any opinions are the author's own.

Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Marietta Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of our latest sponsors? Email any and all inquiries to me at christopher.schmitt@patch.com