By Steve Elliott / ADOT Communications
ADOT crews have been working around the clock to keep highways open and motorists safe since these back-to-back storms began hitting Arizona's high country last week.
We've highlighted these efforts as well as the latest conditions through our main social media accounts: Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) and Facebook (facebook.com/AZDOT). Here's a quick roundup of videos and images from the past few days ...
Our two TowPlows are clearing Interstate 40 between Flagstaff and Williams. This video of a TowPlow in action has been very popular on Facebook:
On assignment in Flagstaff, ADOT Public Information Officer Ryan Harding shared how our North Central District's snow desk helps gets plows where they are needed.
The ADOT Flagstaff snow desk ready for a long night helping keep the highways safe thru coordination with plow crews. @ArizonaDOT pic.twitter.com/69XCGteQZj
— Ryan Harding (@RyanADOTPIO) January 20, 2017
Videos and photos shared by field personnel have helped us share important safety messages, such as:
1. Don't park along highways to play in the snow.
2. Give our snowplows room to work.
When wicked weather hits, nothing beats having a network of traffic cameras showing conditions around the state. This video, one of many offered in the past few days, showed conditions Saturday beyond I-40 and I-17 near Flagstaff.
Our followers have been part of this effort as well. In addition to asking about traffic conditions, many of you have shared details and images (we make sure these were taken from the passenger seat before retweeting) that have helped us give everyone the information they need. One example:
@ArizonaDOT Took a road trip to Eagar this afternoon.....beautiful! ❄⛄ pic.twitter.com/mFj8v0A78b
— White〽️ountainDawg™ (@Dawg75Msu) January 22, 2017
Finally, many of you have shared praise for the ADOT personnel working tirelessly to keep highways open. We send them comments such as this one, and we thank everyone who's taken time to offer kind words.
@ArizonaDOT best snow plowers ever! They are so on top of it once it starts snowing. Great job.
— Kristi Ormonde (@heavenon7thflor) January 23, 2017
PHOENIX ‒ With the worst of back-to-back winter storms yet to come, the Arizona Department of Transportation’s snowplow operators are working 12-hour shifts to keep highways open.
In some cases, other drivers are making that difficult job even tougher.
On Thursday afternoon, an SUV struck a snowplow working on State Route 89A between Prescott Valley and Jerome (as shown in the photo). Everyone was OK – though the SUV was severely damaged – but ADOT lost precious time clearing that route.
Meanwhile, snowplow drivers are encountering difficulty clearing Ash Fork Hill on eastbound Interstate 40 because large trucks aren’t, as signs instruct them, staying in the right lanes.
ADOT’s 400 certified snowplow drivers, operating the agency’s nearly 200 snowplows, need room to work. Give them space, starting with staying at least four vehicle lengths behind and never passing a working plow until the driver pulls over to let traffic pass.
Here are other tips straight from ADOT’s snowplow drivers:
For more tips on respecting the plow and other winter-driving essentials, visit azdot.gov/KnowSnow.
By Steve Elliott / ADOT Communications
Arizona highways look inviting when there's a plowed strip of pavement amid a blanket of snow (see the video above). ADOT has a fleet of nearly 200 snowplows and 400 certified snowplow drivers stationed around the state to get them that way.
But as Christmas weekend showed, especially on Interstate 40 from Flagstaff west to Ash Fork and on Interstate 17 south of Flagstaff, a snowstorm can be so intense that travel becomes unsafe quickly. This is why we urge drivers to monitor conditions before they leave and be prepared to delay travel until our plows can do their work. A few inches of snow fell per hour at the height of this storm, causing many vehicles to slide off and resulting in long closures (the photo at upper right is from I-40) because of the time required to get vehicles cleared and lanes open again.
Because snowstorms can result in sudden closures sometimes lasting for hours, we offer tips at azdot.gov/KnowSnow that include packing an emergency kit with blankets, warm clothing, snacks and water, having a charged cellphone and keeping your gas tank half to three-quarters full at all times. But the safest option when significant snow is in the forecast is not being on road unless it's absolutely necessary.
In addition to watching National Weather Service forecasts for the area where you're planning to travel, be sure to check az511.gov or call 511 for the latest road conditions. ADOT's Twitter account (@ArizonaDOT) is a good source of information and interaction.
With another storm forecast for New Year's weekend, we hope recent experience reinforces the value of waiting out a big storm until roads are plowed and ready for traffic. If there's any question about whether it's safe to go, you'd probably do well not to.
By Ryan Harding / ADOT Communications
We understand the temptation, but the highway shoulder is NOT a safe place to pull over and play in the snow.
That may seem obvious, but it’s a common mistake people make when heading up north for a day of snow play. As we shared this week, parking along I-17, US 180 or another highway imperils you, your traveling companions, other motorists and first responders.
Among the hazards:
For safety, exit and re-enter highways from on- and off-ramps and other designated entrances. Then park in designated places.
We want your trip to the high country to be fun and memorable. That starts with how you prepare (see azdot.gov/KnowSnow for tips) and continues with where you park.
Winter Roads
By Dallas Hammit / ADOT Deputy Director for Transportation
ADOT crews are ready for what’s ahead this winter. In fact, they prepare year round for the snow and ice. The agency has 400 commercially licensed snowplow drivers and nearly 200 snowplows in its fleet.
While the work those snowplow drivers do is vital for keeping our roads drivable and safe all season, the decisions everyone else makes on the road are equally important.
Please take a moment to review the safety tips below and be sure to share with family and friends.
Please find more winter driving information, including videos, infographics and blog posts at azdot.gov/KnowSnow.
Editor's Note: More safety messages from Dallas Hammit, ADOT's state engineer, are available at Driving Safety Home on azdot.gov.
PHOENIX – With winter and the promise of snow in the high country rapidly approaching, preparation throughout the year means the Arizona Department of Transportation is ready to keep highways open and travelers safe.
Through its certification and training programs, ADOT has 400 certified snowplow operators ready for winter storms.
Regular maintenance by ADOT Equipment Services has the agency’s 200 snowplows ready to go. Last winter, ADOT spent $2.2 million, an average of $11,000 per vehicle, to keep its snowplows in top condition.
“It’s always difficult to predict not only how severe winter weather will be but where problems will occur,” said Dallas Hammit, ADOT’s state engineer and deputy director for transportation. “With our operators trained and our snowplow fleet up and running, however, ADOT has the resources necessary to respond to snow and ice around the state.”
ADOT’s snowplows working on Interstate 40 between Williams and Flagstaff will include a second TowPlow, a steerable trailer that allows one driver in a snowplow to clear two lanes. Attached to the back of a snowplow and steered by the snowplow driver, the TowPlow allows ADOT remove snow and ice more efficiently while using less fuel, and it frees another snowplow and driver to work elsewhere.
As with any snowplow, drivers approaching a TowPlow should slow down and pass only when the operator pulls over to allow traffic to get around. Remember: The road behind a plow is the safest place to be when snow and ice are on the highway.
While ADOT is ready to keep the roads open and as safe as possible in challenging conditions, motorists can do their part by preparing for travel in winter weather.
ADOT’s “Know Snow” website at azdot.gov/KnowSnow has tips that include adjusting your speed to conditions, leaving extra room between your vehicle and the one ahead, carrying plenty of food and water, and packing an emergency preparedness kit. Tips include carrying a small bag of cat litter or sand to provide traction if your vehicle becomes stuck along the roadway.
Before heading out in any conditions, drivers can call 511 or visit ADOT’s Traveler Information Center at az511.gov for the latest highway conditions around the state. The website features real-time images along state highways that give drivers a glimpse of weather conditions in various regions.
Snowplow clearing the roads.
When Arizona’s latest winter storm hit Sunday evening, ADOT crews went into high gear. Snowplow operators across northern Arizona and other areas where snow fell worked into the night and on through to Monday evening before the storm let up. Their efforts helped keep highways open and traffic flowing.
In ADOT’s North-Central District, based in Flagstaff, Maintenance Engineer Kurtis Harris says a combination of equipment, people, training and advanced planning make for a successful response to a winter storm. And that doesn’t include just the 100-plus snowplow operators on call when the storm hit.
Three motorist-assist groups were stationed on I-17 and parts of I-40 to respond to any drivers in need of help. These crews travel in four-wheel drive vehicles equipped with salt, cinder, shovels and other equipment to help motorists and quickly radio requests for DPS or tow trucks.
“They look for stranded motorists or those who have slid off the road,” Harris says. “Getting stuck vehicles off the road or moving again goes a long way in preventing road closures.”
The snowstorm also gave the North-Central District a chance to try out ADOT’s brand new TowPlow.
Never heard of a TowPlow? It’s a steerable trailer with a 26-foot blade that’s attached to the back of a regular snowplow truck. The combination, able to plow a 24-foot-wide path, lets ADOT clear more lanes in less time using less fuel. ADOT’s TowPlow joins a fleet of 200 traditional snowplows and is assigned to 20 miles of I-40 between Williams and Bellemont west of Flagstaff.
Harris also notes that during storm events, road-closure teams stand by, ready with cones and equipment to quickly and safely set up closures and detours when necessary.
During a winter storm, much of the action is out on the roads, but there’s also a ton of work and coordination happening behind the scenes.
“All of us have a responsibility for keeping the roads open and safe,” Harris says.
That of course extends to drivers, too.
For snow safety tips, visit azdot.gov/KnowSnow. You can also revisit our previous posts for more information on how ADOT prepares for the winter storm season (this video in particular is a good one to watch, if you want a behind the scenes look at how snowplow drivers train).
Snow hasn’t changed since the 1950s, but the way ADOT clears it from the road has.
While today’s snowplows look quite different compared to the design from decades ago, we’re fairly certain that back then snowplow operators appreciated the cooperation of other motorists just as much as they do now.
This winter, ADOT has 450 commercially licensed snowplow drivers who are all ready for the next storm. When it snows, ADOT’s plow drivers stay very busy – the typical shift lasts 12 hours during a storm. To help make their jobs a little easier, there are some simple things all motorists can do.
Respect the plow
First, remember that during or immediately after a snowstorm, you’re better off delaying your travel until the roadways are clear and the weather has cleared up. If you must drive, please follow these safety tips:
For even more on ADOT’s snowplow crews, take a look at this video from last year to see what a day in the life of a snowplow operator entails. You cans also visit ADOT’s Know Snow page for safe driving recommendations and tips to help you prepare for driving in wintry conditions.
We love featuring vintage transportation-related photographs on this blog, but we also like to focus on how things have improved and changed over the years. That’s why we thought it’d be fun to compare the old to the new in a series we’re calling, “Yesterday and Today.”
We’re wrapping up the week with a new video that shows off some winter driving season stats...
Besides being useful, the information included makes for great trivia. You might consider sharing some of the video’s factoids with your friends and family at any upcoming holiday parties you may be attending! Imagine how impressed everyone will be when you announce the exact number of snowplows in ADOT’s fleet (there’s 214). They’ll be wowed when you explain that ADOT has more than 450 employees trained to drive a snowplow (you might even earn bonus points if you go back and review this video on snowplow driver training). You can also tell them that ADOT uses 193 overhead message boards to alert drivers of road conditions.
OK, we’ll let you watch the video to get the rest of the details, but before we sign off, let us point you to our “Know Snow” webpage. There, you’ll find even more information on winter driving and great tips on how to prepare your vehicle for a wintertime trip, along with info on how to deal with various snowy/icy conditions.
Before you head out on the road, you’re also encouraged to call 511 or visit ADOT’s Traveler Information Center at az511.gov for the latest information. ADOT’s Twitter feed is also a great resource for drivers. Of course, you can always revisit our previous “Know Snow” blog posts and videos. Safe travels!
