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• PENNDOT PREPARED FOR WEEKEND SNOWSTORM IN PHILADELPHIA REGION |
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Thursday, February 04, 2010 |
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News for Immediate Release
Feb. 4, 2010
PennDOT Prepared for Weekend Snowstorm in Philadelphia Region
State to Mobilize Over 400 Trucks to Plow State Roads in Five-County Philadelphia Area
King of Prussia – With significant snow predicted to fall in the Greater Philadelphia Region tomorrow and Saturday (Feb. 5-6), the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) said preparations are underway to treat state highways and mobilize more than 400 snow trucks in the region for use during the upcoming storm.
Today (Feb. 4), PennDOT is spraying heavily traveled highways in the five-county Philadelphia region with salt brine solution. This pre-emptive, anti-icing application helps prevent snow from bonding instantly to the cold pavement at the start of the storm.
PennDOT District Executive Lester C. Toaso said salt supplies in the region are plentiful and state crews are ready to apply salt to the highways at the onset of the storm.
“Our plan is to get out in front of this storm from the very start and work to keep our roadways passable,” Toaso said. “However, I urge motorists to drive at a reduced speed and use extreme care if they have to travel at all during this storm due to poor visibility and difficult travel conditions.”
PennDOT enters the upcoming weekend with 92,606 tons of salt stockpiled in 36 locations in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. This winter PennDOT has spread 47,371 tons of salt in the five-county Philadelphia area.
Toaso said PennDOT plans to use its full complement of 420 trucks (182 state, 238 contractor trucks) to salt and plow state highways in the region.
To complement PennDOT’s winter fleet, 96 municipalities in the Philadelphia region will clear snow from state-owned highways within their boundaries as part of the state’s Municipal Snow Removal Program. Under this program, local municipalities plow 1,264 of the 3,530 miles of state highways in the five-county region.
If travel is necessary during the snowstorm, PennDOT offers these additional winter safety tips:
· Always turn on your headlights during inclement weather. State law requires drivers to turn on their headlights when wipers are on;
· Maintain at least twice the normal following distance when driving on snow or ice. Rear‑end collisions account for most winter crashes;
· Maintain a distance of at least six car lengths behind a snow plow;
· Do not pass a snow plow because the plow blades are wider than the truck;
· Clear snow and ice from windows, mirrors, roof, hood, headlights, taillights, and trunk before driving. State law states that if snow or ice from your vehicle strikes another vehicle or person and causes death or injury, you will face a severe fine.
· Keep your gas tank full;
· Use extra care when driving on a bridge or elevated ramp during the winter because they freeze before the road built on the ground.
· Check the level of your windshield washing fluid and only use fluids containing an anti‑freeze solvent. Keep an extra container of windshield fluid in the trunk;
· Keep your vehicle in proper working condition. Make sure the engine is tuned and the battery, belts, hoses and radiator are checked. Examine your tires to make sure they have adequate tread. Also, remember to keep your tires properly inflated;
· Keep an ice scraper/snow brush, deicer, small snow shovel, warning devices (flares or triangles), bag of salt or sand, flashlight, battery cables, tire chains, paper towels, water and a blanket in your vehicle during the winter;
· Car pool or use mass transit whenever possible during a snowstorm. Fewer cars on the road makes travel safer and expedites snow plowing operations.
Motorists can obtain road conditions for interstates and some limited-access highways by calling 511 while stopped in a safe location, or by visiting www.511pa.com before you leave home.
For more winter driving tips and information on how PennDOT treats winter storms, visit www.dot.state.pa.us/winter.
Media contact: Gene Blaum, Assistant Press Secretary, 610-205-6800
Charles Metzger, Community Relations Coordinator, 610-205-6801
Jennifer Robinson, Safety Press Officer, 610-205-6798 |
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