WINTER ROADS: Winter driving is pretty much the worst.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the agency has gotten its own ducks in the row for the inevitable winter weather.
PennDOT:
• will have 2,253 plows on the road this winter
• has 3,806 operators
• has 238 anti-icing units
• will use an estimated 268 rental trucks
• has 47 snow blowers
• has 63 brine-making facilities
• has 739 municipal agreements in place
• will take of 94,280 of snow lane miles
• used 632,799 tons of anti-skid in the winter of 2016-17 — and an average of 900,000 over the last five winters
• spent $255 million on winter maintenance on average over the past five years
• used 9.8 million gallons of salt brine in the winter of 2016-17
The agency has budgeted $220 million for this winter, and about 4,800 on-the-road workers are available. The agency expects to rent about 240 trucks — and the truck operators — to help with snow removal.
More than 500 mechanics will be on hand to keep the fleet in working order.
The more than $255 million spent in in the 2016-17 winter to keep Pennsylvania highways clear was used so: $112 million in personnel, $9.4 million in rented equipment, $59 million in department equipment, $62 million in winter materials such as salt and anti-skid and $12.6 million in municipal agreements.
You can check the conditions of many state-owned roads by visiting www.511PA.com.
PennDOT also offers tips for getting your own vehicle ready for winter.
The agency suggests you check your fluid levels; check that your heater, defroster, lights and radio are operational; make sure your tires are inflated, have sufficient tread and are snow rated.
