Friday, October 21, 2011
CANFIELD
The Ohio Department of Transportation is preparing for the first snowflakes of winter, a year after one of the snowiest seasons on record in the Mahoning Valley.
ODOT District 4 had its annual winter preparedness session Thursday at its Canfield garage. District 4 covers Mahoning, Trumbull, Ashtabula, Portage, Summit and Stark counties.
Last December was the snowiest on record with 53.1 inches, and the 2010-’11 winter season was the second snowiest in this century with more than 90 inches falling, according to the National Weather Service.
“We’re getting ready,” said Justin Chesnic, ODOT spokesman.
Chesnic said mechanics and other crew members were checking trucks and plows for problems, such as bad windshield wipers and lights. The trucks receive mechanical service in the spring but are checked again in October, he said.
Although some people might say it’s early to be thinking about snow, the National Weather Service recorded the first flurries Nov. 5, 2010, and Oct. 15, 2009. The earliest recorded snowfall in Youngstown was Oct. 2, 2003.
“Typically we will pre-treat when frost warnings occur at night in late October and November, focusing on bridge decks and ramps,” Chesnic said.
Bridges and ramps are elevated and lose heat quicker than roads, which have relatively warm ground underneath them, he said.
The 7-11 Connector, plowed by Youngstown, has many bridges and ramps and was the scene of several serious accidents last winter.
“It slopes and winds,” Chesnic said. “Regardless of who maintains it, motorists should use caution through there.”
He said the district’s salt bins are fully stocked with about 24,000 tons in Mahoning County and about 19,100 tons for Trumbull County, and more will be ordered throughout the winter. Last season, 18,590 tons of salt were dropped on Mahoning County roads and 23,419 tons in Trumbull County.
The price of salt dipped from $55 per ton in 2010 to about $46 per ton this year because bids were open to out-of-state companies this year, Chesnic said.
Dave Ray, District 4 highway management administrator, said local road departments can take advantage of the salt prices.
“Villages, cities and township can sign up in the summer prior to ODOT contracting out and take advantage of the mass quantity, and they will pay the same prices as ODOT,” Ray said.
Ray said that the program has boomed as the number of local departments using program has grown to 400 across the state.
The state transportation department continues to experiment with lights on the plows to increase visibility. Green lights were proposed last year.
“As we always say: Don’t crowd the plow,” Chesnic said, adding plows usually travel between 35 and 45 mph.
Road conditions, snowfall totals and other information on winter driving is updated at BuckeyeTraffic.org.