ADOT Kids: Sharing your snowplow art, answering your questions
ADOT Kids: Sharing your snowplow art, answering your questions
April 17, 2020
EDITOR'S NOTE: During this unprecedented time, ADOT is creating transportation activities for kids. Please visit azdot.gov/ADOTKids or use the hashtag #ADOTKids on ADOT's Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts to see what we have going on.
By Steve Elliott / ADOT Communications
Thanks to everyone who took part in our first ADOT Kids activity about snowplows! I hope you had fun. We at ADOT sure enjoyed doing it.
Everyone here loved the colorings you shared. And thanks for sending us so many great questions about snowplows.
As promised, there's a slideshow below with everyone's colorings. At right, you can watch a fun video with an ADOT engineer who knows A LOT about snowplows and how we keep highways safe during winter storms. His name is Jesse Gutierrez, and his job is Deputy State Engineer for Operations. We sure appreciate him answering your questions about snowplows.
We have more fun ADOT Kids activities lined up for you. Until next Wednesday, April 22, we hope you will take part in our Keep It Grand Art Challenge. We want you to use sidewalk chalk or anything else you have handy to encourage people to keep Arizona looking great by not littering. Please follow this link for more information.
Next Wednesday, April 22, we'll have a new activity about how engineers build bridges. For more ADOT Kids fun, please keep checking back at azdot.gov/blog or by following the #ADOTKids hashtag on our Twitter,Facebook and Instagram accounts.
EDITOR'S NOTE: During this unprecedented time, ADOT is creating transportation activities for kids. Please visit azdot.gov/ADOTKids or use the hashtag #ADOTKids on ADOT's Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts to see what we have going on.
Caroline Carpenter / ADOT Communications
Did you know a snowplow weighs as much as five elephants? If you didn't, that means you may have missed our first ADOT Kids blog about snowplows. Over the next few weeks, we'll be helping kids learn more about transportation, construction and engineering. We'll be providing fun, educational activities for kids of all ages. You can search "ADOT Kids" on our website for activities or search social media using the hashtag #ADOTKids.
Now, back to those really big snowplows! Kids, did you finish your snowplow coloring activity? Make sure you email it to [email protected] so it can be featured on our website! If you haven't finished your coloring project, visit the ADOT Blog to print our snowplow images for coloring. You can also read more about snowplows and watch videos of them in action when you visit the blog.
After you've emailed your snowplow art to [email protected], take our quiz below to see how much you know about snowplows. If you still have questions about snowplows, get them answered by an ADOT engineer! Email your questions to [email protected] or post them on social media using the hashtag #ADOTKids.
EDITOR'S NOTE: During this unprecedented time, ADOT is creating transportation activities for kids. Please visit azdot.gov/ADOTKids or use the hashtag #ADOTKids on ADOT's Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts to see what we have going on.
By Ryan Harding / ADOT Communications
Did you know that one ADOT snowplow weighs as much as five elephants? That’s 30 tons!
Snowplows keep the highways in Arizona's mountain areas clear of snow and ice to help everyone stay safe. Operating these powerful machines are drivers who receive a lot of training, including spending time in a snowplow simulator machine. That training is important, since a new snowplow costs at least $250,000.
Check out the video at right showing ADOT snowplows and snowplow drivers in action. It's from 2014.
A snowplow driver’s job is very important in keeping roads safe for travel. The city of Flagstaff, which is about a two-hour drive north of Phoenix, can get 90 inches of snow in a year. If that all fell at once, it would be taller than Deandre Ayton of the Phoenix Suns!
There are two busy freeways near Flagstaff, Interstate 40 and Interstate 17, so that area has a lot of ADOT plows on the road when it snows. That helps keep everyone safe.
Snowplow drivers work for 12 hours. That’s like starting when you first get up for school and finishing at dinnertime! Can you imagine sitting behind the wheel of one of these large vehicles in a snowstorm for that long?
If you think that these snowplows are big, check out the second video about the TowPlow. ADOT has two TowPlows. They attach to the back of a regular snowplow, and the driver steers it clear even more snow and ice.
TowPlows are HUGE! They allow one driver in a snowplow to do the work of TWO regular snowplows.
By now, I hope you love snowplows as much as I do. There's lots more to learn about them at a website we call Know Snow. You also can check out our Know Snow YouTube channel with videos about snow, snowplows and winter driving. Both links will take you to lots of safety tips. Most of these safety tips are for drivers, but here's one every kid should know: Never play in the snow next to a highway. One reason is that snowplows throw A LOT of snow and ice way off the roadway. You don't to be in the way when that's happening!
We also have activities for you:
COLOR A PICTURE AND SEND IT TO US: When you color one or both of the snowplow pictures below (click on them for a version you can print), have an adult scan or take a picture of your coloring and email it to [email protected]. We'll add every one we receive by 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, to a slideshow and put it right here on Friday, April 17, so you can see your masterpiece along with everyone else's. We've included spaces for you to include your first name (only your first name), your age and where you live. We can't post photos of you with your art, but we'd love to show just your art. UPDATE: We've added a slideshow with everyone's colorings below.
SEND US QUESTIONS: When an adult emails your picture to [email protected], please send us questions you have about snowplows. We'll share the most popular questions with an ADOT engineer who knows A LOT about snowplows. UPDATE: We've shared this video below in which Jesse Gutierrez, our deputy state engineer for operations, answers your questions.
I can't wait to see what you do with these drawings and to see what questions you have about ADOT snowplows!
TowPlows, training help give ADOT an edge when snow hampers travel
TowPlows, training help give ADOT an edge when snow hampers travel
November 14, 2019
PHOENIX – Arizona Department of Transportation snowplows will operate around the clock when winter storms hamper travel on state highways. For Interstate 40 between Flagstaff and Williams, the highest freeway stretch in Arizona, an innovation known as the TowPlow helps give ADOT an edge by allowing just one driver to clear snow and ice from two lanes.
The TowPlow is a steerable trailer with a 26-foot blade that attaches to the back of a snowplow. Two TowPlows are assigned to I-40 west of Flagstaff, an area that often sees intense snowfall.
Able to do the job of two snowplows by clearing a 24-foot-wide path, this combination lets ADOT clear more lanes in less time using less fuel. When possible, ADOT will run another snowplow alongside the TowPlow setup, clearing both lanes and the shoulder at once.
Everyone benefits from having all of ADOT’s two TowPlows and nearly 200 snowplows clearing highways rather than having some taken out of service when misguided motorists crash into them. That’s why ADOT’s Know Snow tips include this simple request: Respect the plow.
Here’s how you do that:
Give them room: Stay well behind any snowplow – a minimum of four vehicle lengths.
Don’t try to pass: Plow drivers will move over periodically and allow traffic to pass when it is safe to do so.
Think safety: The road behind a snowplow is the safest place to drive.
ADOT’s 400 snowplow drivers undergo extensive training so they can keep state highways safe. With the potential for winter storms to hit soon, now it’s time for you to get to Know Snow by reviewing ADOT’s safety tips at azdot.gov/KnowSnow.
For starters, slow down when roads are slick with snow and ice, leaving extra room behind the vehicle ahead. Take a fully charged cellphone, warm clothing and an emergency kit that includes blankets, food and water, medication and sand or kitty litter.
Check your vehicle before heading out in winter weather, making sure – at a minimum – that the tires, heater and windshield wipers are in good shape.
Before traveling, research weather conditions to determine whether it would be smarter to sit out a storm so ADOT’s snowplows can clear highways. Check road conditions by calling 511 or visiting az511.gov. ADOT’s Twitter account (@ArizonaDOT) and Facebook page (facebook.com/AZDOT) provide real-time information and interaction. And the free ADOT Alerts app available at ADOTAlerts.com will send critical information, including alternate routes, should snow and ice close a major highway.
So do you Know Snow in Arizona? If not, now’s the time to start learning with a trip to azdot.gov/KnowSnow.
How our crews do spring cleaning in the high country
How our crews do spring cleaning in the high country
April 17, 2019
By David Rookhuyzen / ADOT Communications
April is here, so it's time for some spring cleaning.
Our crews up in the White Mountains were out last week prepping several state highways in that area following normal winter closures. And what, you may wonder, does it takes to clear a road after several months of heavy snow?
The answer, as you can see in these photos from work done on State Route 273, is some hard work and a good snowblower. We wrote about this snowblower and what it's capable of in February in the aftermath of the massive winter storm that covered most of the high parts of the state with multiple feet of snow.
State Route 273 between Sunrise and Big Lake, along with State Route 261 between Eager and Big Lake, and State Route 473 between State Route 260 and Hawley Lake all reopened on Monday. State Route 366, known as the Swift Trail heading up Mount Graham near Safford, has also reopened.
State Route 67, between Jacob Lake and the Grand Canyon is expected to remain closed through mid-May. But don't worry: We have a snowblower stationed up that way for when the weather is right.
If the highway to your favorite lake is now open, please remember to take the following precautions as you head toward the great outdoors:
Make sure all occupants in a vehicle are buckled in.
Check tire pressure, fluids and more to make sure a vehicle is in proper running condition.
Be patient, including not following other vehicles too closely and building in extra travel time.
Get enough sleep before the trip.
Bring extra water and food.
Never drink and drive.
Check for information about highway restrictions and more by visiting az511.gov, calling 511 or following ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT).
Respect the plow! For safety, give ADOT snowplows room to work
Respect the plow! For safety, give ADOT snowplows room to work
December 30, 2018
PHOENIX – With another winter storm blowing in on New Year’s Eve, Arizona Department of Transportation snowplow operators will work 12-hour shifts to clear snow and ice from highways.
And they need your help to do their jobs effectively and safely.
ADOT’s certified snowplow drivers, operating the agency’s nearly 200 plows, need room to work. For your safety and theirs, stay at least four vehicle lengths behind and never pass a working plow until the driver pulls over to let traffic pass.
Never assume a snowplow operator knows you are nearby. If you can’t see the plow driver, there is a good chance the driver can’t see you.
Here are some other safety tips from ADOT snowplow drivers:
Consider putting off travel during a storm and waiting until ADOT’s plows have cleared highways of snow and ice. It’s much more difficult for snowplows to do their jobs when a highway is jammed with vehicles stopped by slide-offs and crashes on the slick surface.
To avoid interfering with snowplows, drivers of large trucks should heed signs on steep uphill grades telling them to stay in the right lane or right lanes. One example is eastbound Interstate 40 on Ash Fork Hill approaching Williams.
If approaching an oncoming snowplow, slow down and give the plow extra room.
Leave space when stopping behind a snowplow. The driver might need to back up.
Just because a plow has been through an area, don’t assume the roadway is completely clear of snow and ice.
In addition, motorists traveling in the high country should be ready to slow down and allow extra braking distance behind all vehicles.
If you decide to travel during a snowstorm, be prepared for delays and the possibility that you will spend extended time in winter conditions due to slowing and closures caused by the weather. Pack an emergency kit that includes warm clothes and gloves, blankets, healthy snacks, water and a first-aid kit including all necessary medications, and a fully charged cellphone. Make sure your gas tank is full or close to it.
Be sure to check highway conditions before hitting the road and look at the latest weather forecast. Visiting ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov or calling 511 will alert you to incidents as well as snow and ice on the road. For Interstate 17 travelers, ADOT’s message boards now provide estimated travel times to Flagstaff, Prescott and other popular high-country destinations.
The free ADOT Alerts app, available for iOS and Android devices at ADOTAlerts.com, will notify users about weather-related delays and closures.
For more tips on respecting the plow and other winter-driving essentials, visit azdot.gov/KnowSnow.
ADOT’s newest snowplows ready for more high country storms
ADOT’s newest snowplows ready for more high country storms
December 20, 2018
PHOENIX – With another round of winter storms approaching, the Arizona Department of Transportation’s snowplow fleet includes 25 new, high-tech vehicles ready to clear state highways of snow and ice.
These snowplows have lighter, flexible blades that ADOT’s trained drivers can adjust from inside the cab to efficiently clear highways, such as when conditions warrant a tighter curl or different angle. The new plows also provide easier handling and improved visibility.
The new Freightliner snowplow trucks, replacing older plows that are no longer part of ADOT’s fleet of nearly 200, are being used almost exclusively on wider interstate highways, including I-17 and I-40 in the Flagstaff area. While many other existing snowplows have 11-foot wide steel blades up front, the flexible blades on these plows measure 12 feet across.
ADOT purchased the snowplows, each costing $280,000 and weighing 65,000 pounds fully loaded with equipment and deicing materials, as part of a program to maintain a fleet of reliable machines that keeps the traveling public as safe as possible when winter weather strikes.
The bit, or bottom edge section of a flexible snowplow blade, includes a shock-absorbing rubber insulator that improves contact with the highway’s surface. The plow blade acts much more like a squeegee along the pavement, increasing the removal of snow and ice from lower, worn spots created by heavy traffic.
Inside the cab, several high-tech tools help snowplow operators negotiate often-challenging conditions. Joysticks control the blade’s movements. A computerized monitor provides weather data and pavement temperatures as well as information about deicing agents that are distributed from the plow’s dump truck bed. Another screen shows images from separate rear- and side-mounted cameras.
A laser light system guides drivers as they also operate a separate blade called a wing plow, which can extend from right side of the vehicle and increase the amount of snow cleared. The laser’s beam, which shines ahead to match where the outside edge of the wing plow will travel, lets drivers know if they need to merge away from objects such as guardrails.
Any snowplow operator, whether in a new or older plow, has a lot to focus on while clearing snow from highways. It’s important that other highway drivers give snowplows plenty of room to operate. Try to avoid passing a snowplow while it’s clearing snow and stay at least four vehicles lengths behind it.
The new snowplows aren’t limited to use during the winter season. With plow-related equipment removed, they provide year-round flexibility when used as dump trucks for highway maintenance work.
Driving Safety Home: ADOT is ready for the winter storm season
Driving Safety Home: ADOT is ready for the winter storm season
December 3, 2018
By Dallas Hammit / ADOT State Engineer
Our plows, including some new ones that have just been added to the fleet, are prepped and in position. ADOT snowplow operators are ready to go, too – they train throughout the year to help keep the roads open when the snow starts to fall.
Yes, the agency is ready for any storm we face. The only variable we cannot control is the behavior of all the drivers on the road.
As I said last year, winter travel safety tips generally don’t change much year to year, but that doesn’t mean we can stop paying attention. All drivers benefit from a reminder of what to do when faced with winter conditions. We also should take the time to review our behaviors and adjust our driving habits if needed to ensure we’re operating our vehicles in the safest manner possible.
I’d like to encourage you to review these safety tips and share them with your loved ones:
Slow Down and Leave Extra Room: Adjust your speed to conditions. Driving slower and leaving space between your vehicle and others when snow and ice are present can improve your ability to brake and prevent skids.
Leave Prepared: Dress for cold weather, bring extra clothes and gloves, be sure your cellphone is charged, and pack food, water and necessary medications. Make sure your vehicle is in good working condition, starting with the battery, heater/defroster, wiper blades, wiper fluid and brakes.
Pack an Emergency Kit: For starters, take blankets, a flashlight, an ice scraper, a small shovel, a container of sand for traction, a reflective vest and hazard lights or reflectors in case your vehicle becomes disabled.
Beware of Black Ice: Black ice tends to form at night when melting snow freezes and is especially common on bridges.
Stay Up to Date: Visit ADOT’s Travel Information site at az511.gov or call 511 to get the latest highway conditions, and pay attention to messages on overhead boards. ADOT’s Twitter feed (@ArizonaDOT) is an excellent source of information, as is ADOT’s free app that sends critical information directly to app users in affected areas. Find details at ADOTAlerts.com.
I also hope you’ll take a moment to check out azdot.gov/ KnowSnow, ADOT’s site for all things related to winter travel. There, you’ll find additional safety tips, videos and infographics.
Editor's Note: More safety messages from Dallas Hammit, ADOT's state engineer and deputy director for transportation, are available at Driving Safety Home on azdot.gov.
It's a cold fact: Many Arizonans don't know snow deeply
It's a cold fact: Many Arizonans don't know snow deeply
November 29, 2018
Did you know stats
By Laurie Merrill / ADOT Communications
If you were born and raised south of Cordes Junction, let’s face it: You’re probably not an expert when it comes to driving in snow. Even if you hail from the East Coast or a place like Colorado, chances are you’ve been driving in blazing sunlight so long that at the very least you need a refresher.
ADOT’s Know Snow website is packed with tips on how to stay safe, warm and prepared for any journey on which you might encounter snow or ice. We recommend giving it a look with snow forecast in Arizona's high country starting Thursday night.
One of the most important tips takes place before you even get behind the wheel: Research weather conditions. Visit az511.gov or dial 511 for updated road conditions. Follow ADOT's Twitter account at @ArizonaDOT. However, never use a cellphone or mobile device while driving.
If it's going to be a big storm, you might choose to sit this one out . That way ADOT’s nearly 200 snowplows can clear the roadways.
Did you know that ADOT's commercially licensed plow drivers – 400 of them in all – typically work 12-hour shifts during storms? Did you know that the safest place to be is four car lengths behind a snowplow, and that it's never safe to pass one until it pulls over to let you by? Did you know that ADOT annually spends between $5 million and $8 million on winter safety operations?
For more facts and tips, please check out our Know Snow website. You’ll be glad you did.
You also can reduce the chances of getting caught out in the cold by downloading the free ADOT Alerts app available for iOS and Android at ADOTAlerts.com. Using geofencing technology, the app will alert you to major events on highways, including any closures prompted by snowfall.
How do you prepare for driving in winter weather? Know Snow
How do you prepare for driving in winter weather? Know Snow
November 8, 2018
PHOENIX – When a couple of October storms dropped early snow on Arizona’s high country, the Arizona Department of Transportation and its plows were ready because the agency prepares year-round for winter weather.
Now it’s time for you to equip yourself and your vehicle for snow.
ADOT offers Know Snow safety tips at azdot.gov/KnowSnow such as slowing down, leaving extra room behind the vehicle ahead, having a fully charged cellphone, taking along warm clothing, blankets, food and water, and packing an emergency kit. Check your vehicle before heading out in winter weather, making sure – at a minimum – that the tires, heater and windshield wipers are in good shape.
Before traveling, research weather conditions to determine whether it would be smarter to sit out a storm so ADOT’s nearly 200 snowplows can clear highways. Check road conditions by calling 511 or visiting az511.gov. ADOT’s Twitter account (@ArizonaDOT) and Facebook page (facebook.com/AZDOT) provide real-time information and interaction. And the free ADOT Alerts app available at ADOTAlerts.com will send critical information, including alternate routes, should snow and ice close a major highway.
ADOT’s preparations for winter weather include ensuring a well-maintained snowplow fleet. With that in mind, the agency has replaced 25 older plows with new models that are more cost-efficient, require less maintenance and feature technology that helps operators do their jobs more efficiently during 12-hour shifts.
These new plows include auxiliary cab heaters to keep drivers warm while not idling and wasting fuel; heated windshields to prevent wipers from freezing and getting stuck; backup cameras and a camera and laser guidance system to help guide operators; state-of-the-art lighting packages; and front flex plows that can bend in different configurations to remove snow.
ADOT’s fleet also includes two Tow Plows that operate along Interstate 40 between Flagstaff and Williams. Tow plows are separate steerable plows on trailers pulled by snowplows, allowing one driver to clear two lanes in a single run along a highway.
Standing ready to operate ADOT snowplows are 400 certified operators who train throughout the year to help keep people and commerce moving when winter weather strikes.
While ADOT’s snowplow operators are ready to help you, you should help them in return. Always respect the plow. Avoid passing a snowplow that’s clearing a highway until the driver pulls over to let traffic pass, and never assume a snowplow operator knows your vehicle is nearby. If you can’t see the plow driver, there’s a good chance the driver can’t see you.
Remember: The safest place on a highway when it’s snowing is trailing a safe distance behind a snowplow.
Another way to help is making an informed decision about traveling when snow is forecast or already falling. The safest choice always is waiting until snow is no longer falling and until ADOT’s plows have cleared highways. It’s also the most efficient decision, as a highway takes much longer to plow when it’s jammed with vehicles that shouldn’t be traveling on a roadway that’s slick with snow and ice.
So do you Know Snow in Arizona? If not, now’s the time to start learning with a trip to azdot.gov/KnowSnow.
