While there might not be any snow on the ground today, those cold winter months will be here before we know it.
PennDOT is budgeting over $212 million dollars this winter in the hopes of keeping everyone safe on the roads.
“Winter is starting to finally set in for us, as we’ve seen over the weekend,”
Monday morning in Blair County, PennDOT officials discussed how they’re getting ready for the snowy season to come.
“We’ve been working over the past few months to get all of our equipment ready to go for winter operations,”
Each winter, PennDOT uses 2,350 trucks, plows, and salt spreaders.
Last winter alone, they used over 800,000 tons of salt and about 525,000 tons of anti-skid.
While PennDOT officials say they have enough of these materials, what they need is employees.
“We’re not any different than the rest of the world with some staffing vacancies. As we get out there this winter, we prioritize our main routes to make sure they’re taken care of. But at times, with some vacancies, as we get into more prolonged storms, you may see where we have to bearback on some of our backroads,”
Throughout the winter, check your tires, drive slow, don’t pass active plow trucks, and don’t go out if you don’t have to.
PennDOT officials also recommend keeping an emergency kit in your vehicle including chargers, shovels, first aid supplies, warm clothing, food and water.
“There will be some slush at times with some snow on the roadways. We’re just trying to maintain safe, passible roadways,”
PennDOT is in need of CDL operators and mechanics along with other positions, so they encourage people to reach out and apply.