ODOT mechanics ready equipment to keep roads safe this winter
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Armed with power tools and wrenches, ODOT mechanics are “suiting up” to inspect, test and fine tune each piece of snow removal equipment to ensure it is ready for battle this winter season.
“Snow and ice removal is one of our core services and is vital to keeping Ohioans safe and our economy running each winter,” said ODOT Director Jerry Wray. “Our county garages do a great job to make sure our equipment is fully operational and ready to plow the roads.”
In the coming weeks, ODOT mechanics throughout the eight counties in District 9, which includes Adams, Brown, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike, Ross and Scioto, will perform a 142-point inspection on 110 snowplows including brakes, lights, fluids and other important safety and mechanical items.
“Our mechanics implement a very strict inspection of each piece of equipment,” said District 9 Deputy Director Vaughn Wilson. “Winter readiness events are vital to our overall winter maintenance strategy to certify each snowplow, truck and spreader is winter ready.”
Besides equipment, another critical element in ODOT’s snow-fighting arsenal is salt. Earlier this year ODOT was able to save nearly $2 million on its annual salt purchase – or roughly $2.00 per ton. The savings were realized thanks to a change in Ohio law which now gives ODOT flexibility to purchase salt from a variety of vendors, making the salt bids more competitive.
This season, ODOT will have more than 3,000 trained drivers ready to clear snow and ice from nearly 40,000 lane miles of state roadways and bridges, where the state highway system carries approximately two thirds of the state’s daily traffic.
The first snow storm usually seems to be the worst because many motorists don’t remember the winter driving skills they developed last year. Being a careful and informed driver is the best way motorists can travel safely. ODOT’s best advice: in Ice and Snow… Take it Slow.[[In-content Ad]]
“Snow and ice removal is one of our core services and is vital to keeping Ohioans safe and our economy running each winter,” said ODOT Director Jerry Wray. “Our county garages do a great job to make sure our equipment is fully operational and ready to plow the roads.”
In the coming weeks, ODOT mechanics throughout the eight counties in District 9, which includes Adams, Brown, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike, Ross and Scioto, will perform a 142-point inspection on 110 snowplows including brakes, lights, fluids and other important safety and mechanical items.
“Our mechanics implement a very strict inspection of each piece of equipment,” said District 9 Deputy Director Vaughn Wilson. “Winter readiness events are vital to our overall winter maintenance strategy to certify each snowplow, truck and spreader is winter ready.”
Besides equipment, another critical element in ODOT’s snow-fighting arsenal is salt. Earlier this year ODOT was able to save nearly $2 million on its annual salt purchase – or roughly $2.00 per ton. The savings were realized thanks to a change in Ohio law which now gives ODOT flexibility to purchase salt from a variety of vendors, making the salt bids more competitive.
This season, ODOT will have more than 3,000 trained drivers ready to clear snow and ice from nearly 40,000 lane miles of state roadways and bridges, where the state highway system carries approximately two thirds of the state’s daily traffic.
The first snow storm usually seems to be the worst because many motorists don’t remember the winter driving skills they developed last year. Being a careful and informed driver is the best way motorists can travel safely. ODOT’s best advice: in Ice and Snow… Take it Slow.[[In-content Ad]]