12/19/2008
ITD Prepares for Winter Road Conditions
BOISE - In advance of winter snowstorms rolling into the state, Idaho Transportation Department crews in southwest Idaho sprayed liquid de-icer on state highways and major thoroughfares Thursday afternoon in an effort to make driving as safe as possible.
The de-icer, Magnesium Chloride, works like anti-freeze - it lowers the freezing temperature of water and prevents ice from forming a strong bond with the road. It also keeps snow from sticking to the pavement.
In District 3, which encompasses the ten counties in southwestern Idaho, trucks are filled with de-icer and abrasives (sand and salt mixture), and are also ready to plow new snow as it accumulates on roads.
The transportation department maintains 2,547 lane miles of district roadway, including 396 bridges. Unless conditions warrant other action, the department prioritizes clearing and maintaining the State Highway system with the interstate (including the Connector) being top priority.
When winter weather comes, ITD crews and trucks will be ready to make driving in the Treasure Valley as safe as possible. A number of improvements will save the agency time and money, while providing convenience and added comfort for motorists:
- ITD has 70 trucks equipped with snowplows available to clear roads in the region - 20 of which can be used to spread de-icing compounds such as Magnesium Chloride in response to snowstorms and 50 of which are sanders.
- In addition to regular snowplows, ITD has installed wing plows on two District 3 trucks. The wing plows clear roads faster by enabling one truck to plow a 12-foot lane and shoulder at the same time, rather than requiring two trucks to plow in tandem. This also frees up a truck to clear snow as needed elsewhere in the valley. About a dozen trucks equipped with the new wingplows should be available over the next month.
- Five snowblowers (rotary plows) are ready for use in helping clear snow-laden roadways.
- Eight road graders will be used to remove heavy snow from roadways and shoulders, including five equipped with wing units.
- Improved voice-recognition capability
- Highway information obtained by selecting the highway section
- Improved incident location identification
- New information menu tailored to the needs of truckers
- High speed Internet option that incorporates Google map technology
- Web-enabled mobile devices can now receive reports and photographs.
- Remain two car lengths behind snowplows for every 10 mph you drive. Sand being spread can damage your vehicle.
- If you need to pass a snowplow, allow extra space before cutting back in front of the snowplow. The plow blades are often covered with snow and can be difficult to see.
- Don't brake suddenly if you are in front of a snowplow. It cannot stop as quickly as an automobile.