ODOT Conducts Winter Readiness Inspections

ZANESVILLE, OH – While most of us are thinking about pumpkins and costumes, the Ohio Department of Transportation is thinking about ice and snow.

ODOT crews are already hard at work gearing up for winter weather to keep Ohio’s roads clear and safe when the snow starts to fall. In preparation, ODOT is conducting detailed safety checks on snowplows and other winter equipment to make sure everything is in top shape.

“We’re getting close to winter. We’re bringing all of our trucks in, we’re getting them all inspected, we’re checking to make sure everything’s working, greased, and ready to go. We check our salt piles, our brine systems, and all of our equipment to make sure everything is ready to go for when the snow starts flying,” ODOT Muskingum County Manager Phil Valentine said.

ODOT plans to include using beet juice and other liquid treatments to pre-treat I-70 roads and walls, so ice doesn’t stick to these areas. They’re also reminding drivers to give ODOT vehicles plenty of space on the road as they work to keep highways safe.

“We’re using a lot of liquids down there. We do a lot of tandem plowing. It’s really tight with our plows down there, so we try to stay together to keep people from passing us because they’re so close to the plows. Something to keep in mind is if you are in the construction zones downtown, give us some space until we get through. Just one little bump on that wall can take us across that center line. So, give us a little bit of space and let us get through there to try to make sure the zone is as safe as possible for everyone,” Valentine said.

As an added backup, they’ll have snowblowers on hand to help keep everything clear.