We answer some of your most frequent snow and ice questions
By Barbara LaBoe
With one storm behind us and extra at the way, we all know you've got questions about how and whilst we deal with and clean roadways. We've compiled a few of our most often requested questions below.
As all the time our precedence is security for our employees and the traveling public. Heavy storms will imply drivers ought to anticipate to be traveling on packed snow and ice and have got to sluggish down and live alert - and believe changing journeys if possible.
1. How can we live plugged in to forecasts? How can we verify whilst winter climate would possibly be at the way?
We track and train for conditions a couple of ways. First, we contract for private, site-specific forecasts to recognize how our roadways might be affected. Our crews can attain out for extra element from the forecasters round the clock.
We also work carefully with the National Weather Service equally on forecasts and methods to speak conditions to the public.
Our crews and employees in our Transportation Management Centers also are constantly tracking conditions and sharing roadway news in case changes have got to be made.
2. What are the steps we take when we believe a snow/ice storm will be coming?
Anytime extreme climate seems to be on its method we alert staff, coordinate with forecasters and examine in with our upkeep crews throughout the state to guarantee we've sufficient gives and to read of any special issues or challenges. Often we are going to have a collection of conferences or planning calls within the times optimum as much as a anticipated storm. If needed, we will also turn on our Emergency Operations Center to assist reply and coordinate resources.
We would possibly velocity up beginning of sure gives corresponding to salt to preserve our sheds from operating low and in addition have crews from different tasks shift to snow and ice response.
3. What varieties of goods does WSDOT use to deal with highways, and what conditions can we use every product for?
We use a few merchandise depending on conditions, in many instances a mixture of strong salt and liquid merchandise corresponding to magnesium chloride, calcium chloride and sodium chloride (salt brine), all of which might be salt-based products. The "chemical cure approach" permits us to proactively deal with roads to assist stay away from the formation of ice and compact snow at the highway and assist to boost up the return to a naked and rainy condition. This method has ended in a substantial growth within the degree of provider offered to the traveling public and substantially improves mobility. While we proceed to make use of sand in sure conditions, it's not the fundamental tool.
Before and throughout storms crews will:
Pretreat roads earlier than storms arrive (in instances of rain turning to snow this may be hard as a few pre-treat may be washed away).
Liquid anti-icers are normally utilized to the roadway earlier than climate occasions occur, and evade ice crystals from bonding to the pavement. The quantity utilized may be adjusted primarily founded on conditions.
Plow snow simply due to the fact it arrives.
Treat accumulated snow and ice on roads.
Solid de-icing chemicals are used to preserve accumulating snow free and "plow-able" so it's eliminated with snowplows. If snow and ice turn out to be compact and bonded to a paved surface, the strong chemical de-icers can take in into the compact snow or ice, melt it and smash it up for snowplow removal.
Sand roadways
While now not used as a lot as in years past, sand is nonetheless positioned down to assist enhance traction in a few parts and can also be typically combined with salt products. Sand is a extra reactive than proactive cure and tends to get blown off the street extra speedy than chemical products.
4. When we are saying a street has been plowed, or has been treated, what does that mean? What will the roads appear like? Which lanes can we clean first? Why do now not we clean all of the lanes? How are ramps prioritized?
Our first objective in clearing roadways is making certain the proper hand lane is passable, so we will work to get that cleared earlier than shifting on to ramps after which to the different lanes of the roadways. During enormous or heavy storms tourists ought to be ready that now not all lanes will probably be cleared immediately; they might be using on packed snow and ice. This ability they will ought to modify journey occasions and plans in extreme weather.
In a few instances the place snow or ice has accumulated, we will deal with with salt earlier than clearing, which facilitates smash the bond to the roadway. So tourists might see a few roads with snow that has been handled but now not yet cleared as the salt desires a few time to work.
We can clean roads purely to see snow and ice from shoulders in a few parts to soften throughout the day after which freeze as temperatures drop, causing roadways to ice up again. We re-treat roadways, but drivers ought to be ready that any roadway might be icy throughout and proper now after storms and chilly snaps.
5. How many snow plows does WSDOT have?
We have 500 snow plows statewide. Each plow covers among 50 to 75 lane miles on one run via a route. Crews will proceed running routes a number of occasions a day, particularly as snow retains falling.
6. When people say they haven't seen a snow plow at all in their drive from X to X, why would that be? Does it mean we don't have plows out?
During storms our crews are out round the clock. We have loads of miles to cover, however, and plows do now not transfer very quickly - about 25 to 30 mph - as they conceal an common of about 50 miles on a run. So if a plow was 10 miles forward of you at the roadway, you might now not see it across a morning commute, but it'll be out at the street once more behind you after it has replenished supplies.
In a few parts we also should behavior tandem plowing to totally clean a few lanes - pretty on passes. This capacity a sequence of plows will work one stretch to push snow off to the side. In this case, you might now not see plows in your stretch of street simply due to the fact they are tandem plowing one other part earlier than coming to yours.
7. Why do I see vans going via with their plows up rather of plowing?
There might well be a host of reasons. They might be first treating the roadway with de-icer to smash up the bond among snow and ice and roadway. In that case they would desire to provide the salt de-icer a few time to work.
It's also seemingly the plow is on its option to an assigned enviornment somewhat farther out and one other plow will quickly be clearing the enviornment you are at. Because plows run slowly when the plow is down, or now not it's extra green to ship a few to additional out parts earlier than they leap clearing than to have them attempt to plow the whole method there. We have assigned routes for drivers to clean as loads enviornment as seemingly on every shift.
Also, a plow might well be heading once more to a provide enviornment to replenish with de-icing fabric and therefore would now not have the plow down to sluggish that return trip.
8. How does WSDOT prioritize which routes are plowed and treated? At what level will WSDOT transfer vans from a higher precedence path to a lesser-priority route?
Generally, our precedence routes are located via the amount of site visitors on every roadway. Routes with the heaviest site visitors are addressed first and a lot less used routes have decrease priorities. More news about here's reachable online.
Sometimes this capacity quantity of vans versus place - we do now not ship all plows at the west facet to I-5 first, for example. But parts with a primary interstate would have extra plows progressively stationed of their area.
9. What are the challenges plow operators face across snow/ice operations? How can drivers assist them?
Plow drivers are concentrating at the roadway, making certain they are plowing or treating efficiently and avoiding any hazards. Please provide them arena and be patient. Your finest bet is to wait till a snowplow operator pulls over and we might you go when or now not it's safe.
Plows can throw snow to both facet of the automobile and a few tools extends from the plow and might now not be simple to see in heavy snow or at night. Visibility is hard for the plow operator too, so please permit arena and in simple terms go if or now not it's secure to do so.
10. What's the commonplace shift appear like for a plow operator across those events? When do they leap and how lengthy do they work? How do they practice the vehicle?
A ordinary shift is 10 hours but or now not it's prolonged to twelve hours across storm prep and response. Crews will come in and speak with the consumer who simply executed on their route after which guarantee their automobile is stocked with merchandise resembling salt, mixes and sand, after which head out on their route. Plows might be diverted if a problem spot develops but in many instances run a deliberate route for many green policy of big areas.
11. Why does now not WSDOT have extra snow plows?
We have loads of snowplows - 500 statewide. But we also ought to steadiness tools in opposition to wants simply as households do of their family budget. In our case, that consists of a host of different upkeep fees and tasks across the 12 months moreover snow and ice equipment. In parts that now not often see snow, or now not it isn't rate nice to have big numbers of plows that might now not be wanted most years.
Our upkeep workforce shifts are also prolonged from 10 hours to twelve hours when storms are approaching and we will name in employees from different parts to assist conceal routes. Shifts even have a constructed in overlap so that roads are included whereas different employees go on or off shift.
12. How do we coordinate with cities and counties? Some state routes aren't our jurisdiction. How do we make sure everything is accounted for?
Coverage and plowing duty is found nicely earlier than storms approach. We also dangle annual snow and ice prep conferences throughout the state to guarantee everybody is aware of our plans and find out the best way to touch us. We work intently with our companions in towns and counties to guarantee everybody is masking the roads beneath their jurisdiction. We also promote salt and different merchandise to smaller jurisdictions, that's simpler than them trucking of their very own supplies.
13. How quick does a snowplow move?
Plows usually transfer among 25 - 30 mph whereas employing product or clearing snow and ice. They ought to transfer slower so that they will discuss their process and guarantee they're working efficiently. Also, they're bigger cars and have a few restricted sight lines. If plows are operating at upper pace they throw snow off the aspects too quick and too hard, that's not safe.
14. Can we shift resources from one area to another if the storm path changes?
Yes, we are able to and we do. This should be staff, tools or provides and is balanced on the place the want is the greatest. In a few statewide occasions - like this coming weekend - there should also be fewer unaffected parts to pull from, but managers nonetheless speak and prioritize founded mostly on wants and conditions.
15. I realize you've got much of roads which might possibly be seen priorities. When deciding which of these roads to handle and handle first, are you drawing from on-the-ground reports/data, digital camera information, historic problem with the road, or only a combination depending on conditions?
The brief reply is all the above.
All these varieties of news cross into remedy plans as properly as any modifications that should also be made as conditions swap or we note new issues. This should be a quickly discussion among plow drivers as they hand over vehicles - like a specific facet alongside a route might well use a few additional work - or additional formal as we judge to re-deploy vehicles to one other area.
With one storm behind us and extra at the way, we all know you've got questions about how and whilst we deal with and clean roadways. We've compiled a few of our most often requested questions below.
As all the time our precedence is security for our employees and the traveling public. Heavy storms will imply drivers ought to anticipate to be traveling on packed snow and ice and have got to sluggish down and live alert - and believe changing journeys if possible.
1. How can we live plugged in to forecasts? How can we verify whilst winter climate would possibly be at the way?
We track and train for conditions a couple of ways. First, we contract for private, site-specific forecasts to recognize how our roadways might be affected. Our crews can attain out for extra element from the forecasters round the clock.
We also work carefully with the National Weather Service equally on forecasts and methods to speak conditions to the public.
Our crews and employees in our Transportation Management Centers also are constantly tracking conditions and sharing roadway news in case changes have got to be made.
 |
| Personnel in our Traffic Management Centers – like this one in Shoreline – monitor hundreds of cameras to help crews respond and also deliver information to the public. |
2. What are the steps we take when we believe a snow/ice storm will be coming?
Anytime extreme climate seems to be on its method we alert staff, coordinate with forecasters and examine in with our upkeep crews throughout the state to guarantee we've sufficient gives and to read of any special issues or challenges. Often we are going to have a collection of conferences or planning calls within the times optimum as much as a anticipated storm. If needed, we will also turn on our Emergency Operations Center to assist reply and coordinate resources.
We would possibly velocity up beginning of sure gives corresponding to salt to preserve our sheds from operating low and in addition have crews from different tasks shift to snow and ice response.
3. What varieties of goods does WSDOT use to deal with highways, and what conditions can we use every product for?
We use a few merchandise depending on conditions, in many instances a mixture of strong salt and liquid merchandise corresponding to magnesium chloride, calcium chloride and sodium chloride (salt brine), all of which might be salt-based products. The "chemical cure approach" permits us to proactively deal with roads to assist stay away from the formation of ice and compact snow at the highway and assist to boost up the return to a naked and rainy condition. This method has ended in a substantial growth within the degree of provider offered to the traveling public and substantially improves mobility. While we proceed to make use of sand in sure conditions, it's not the fundamental tool.
 |
| We maintain sheds with material such as salt and sand throughout the state. Most of the time our salt is mixed with other chemicals. |
Before and throughout storms crews will:
Pretreat roads earlier than storms arrive (in instances of rain turning to snow this may be hard as a few pre-treat may be washed away).
Liquid anti-icers are normally utilized to the roadway earlier than climate occasions occur, and evade ice crystals from bonding to the pavement. The quantity utilized may be adjusted primarily founded on conditions.
Plow snow simply due to the fact it arrives.
Treat accumulated snow and ice on roads.
Solid de-icing chemicals are used to preserve accumulating snow free and "plow-able" so it's eliminated with snowplows. If snow and ice turn out to be compact and bonded to a paved surface, the strong chemical de-icers can take in into the compact snow or ice, melt it and smash it up for snowplow removal.
Sand roadways
While now not used as a lot as in years past, sand is nonetheless positioned down to assist enhance traction in a few parts and can also be typically combined with salt products. Sand is a extra reactive than proactive cure and tends to get blown off the street extra speedy than chemical products.
4. When we are saying a street has been plowed, or has been treated, what does that mean? What will the roads appear like? Which lanes can we clean first? Why do now not we clean all of the lanes? How are ramps prioritized?
Our first objective in clearing roadways is making certain the proper hand lane is passable, so we will work to get that cleared earlier than shifting on to ramps after which to the different lanes of the roadways. During enormous or heavy storms tourists ought to be ready that now not all lanes will probably be cleared immediately; they might be using on packed snow and ice. This ability they will ought to modify journey occasions and plans in extreme weather.
In a few instances the place snow or ice has accumulated, we will deal with with salt earlier than clearing, which facilitates smash the bond to the roadway. So tourists might see a few roads with snow that has been handled but now not yet cleared as the salt desires a few time to work.
We can clean roads purely to see snow and ice from shoulders in a few parts to soften throughout the day after which freeze as temperatures drop, causing roadways to ice up again. We re-treat roadways, but drivers ought to be ready that any roadway might be icy throughout and proper now after storms and chilly snaps.
5. How many snow plows does WSDOT have?
We have 500 snow plows statewide. Each plow covers among 50 to 75 lane miles on one run via a route. Crews will proceed running routes a number of occasions a day, particularly as snow retains falling.
 |
| Our snowplow operators usually work 10-hour shifts but during major snow events, they will work 12-hour shifts with some overlap so that plows are always running. |
6. When people say they haven't seen a snow plow at all in their drive from X to X, why would that be? Does it mean we don't have plows out?
During storms our crews are out round the clock. We have loads of miles to cover, however, and plows do now not transfer very quickly - about 25 to 30 mph - as they conceal an common of about 50 miles on a run. So if a plow was 10 miles forward of you at the roadway, you might now not see it across a morning commute, but it'll be out at the street once more behind you after it has replenished supplies.
In a few parts we also should behavior tandem plowing to totally clean a few lanes - pretty on passes. This capacity a sequence of plows will work one stretch to push snow off to the side. In this case, you might now not see plows in your stretch of street simply due to the fact they are tandem plowing one other part earlier than coming to yours.
7. Why do I see vans going via with their plows up rather of plowing?
There might well be a host of reasons. They might be first treating the roadway with de-icer to smash up the bond among snow and ice and roadway. In that case they would desire to provide the salt de-icer a few time to work.
It's also seemingly the plow is on its option to an assigned enviornment somewhat farther out and one other plow will quickly be clearing the enviornment you are at. Because plows run slowly when the plow is down, or now not it's extra green to ship a few to additional out parts earlier than they leap clearing than to have them attempt to plow the whole method there. We have assigned routes for drivers to clean as loads enviornment as seemingly on every shift.
Also, a plow might well be heading once more to a provide enviornment to replenish with de-icing fabric and therefore would now not have the plow down to sluggish that return trip.
8. How does WSDOT prioritize which routes are plowed and treated? At what level will WSDOT transfer vans from a higher precedence path to a lesser-priority route?
Generally, our precedence routes are located via the amount of site visitors on every roadway. Routes with the heaviest site visitors are addressed first and a lot less used routes have decrease priorities. More news about here's reachable online.
Sometimes this capacity quantity of vans versus place - we do now not ship all plows at the west facet to I-5 first, for example. But parts with a primary interstate would have extra plows progressively stationed of their area.
9. What are the challenges plow operators face across snow/ice operations? How can drivers assist them?
Plow drivers are concentrating at the roadway, making certain they are plowing or treating efficiently and avoiding any hazards. Please provide them arena and be patient. Your finest bet is to wait till a snowplow operator pulls over and we might you go when or now not it's safe.
Plows can throw snow to both facet of the automobile and a few tools extends from the plow and might now not be simple to see in heavy snow or at night. Visibility is hard for the plow operator too, so please permit arena and in simple terms go if or now not it's secure to do so.
10. What's the commonplace shift appear like for a plow operator across those events? When do they leap and how lengthy do they work? How do they practice the vehicle?
A ordinary shift is 10 hours but or now not it's prolonged to twelve hours across storm prep and response. Crews will come in and speak with the consumer who simply executed on their route after which guarantee their automobile is stocked with merchandise resembling salt, mixes and sand, after which head out on their route. Plows might be diverted if a problem spot develops but in many instances run a deliberate route for many green policy of big areas.
11. Why does now not WSDOT have extra snow plows?
We have loads of snowplows - 500 statewide. But we also ought to steadiness tools in opposition to wants simply as households do of their family budget. In our case, that consists of a host of different upkeep fees and tasks across the 12 months moreover snow and ice equipment. In parts that now not often see snow, or now not it isn't rate nice to have big numbers of plows that might now not be wanted most years.
Our upkeep workforce shifts are also prolonged from 10 hours to twelve hours when storms are approaching and we will name in employees from different parts to assist conceal routes. Shifts even have a constructed in overlap so that roads are included whereas different employees go on or off shift.
 |
| Our mechanics work to keep our fleet of 500 snow plows in good shape. |
12. How do we coordinate with cities and counties? Some state routes aren't our jurisdiction. How do we make sure everything is accounted for?
Coverage and plowing duty is found nicely earlier than storms approach. We also dangle annual snow and ice prep conferences throughout the state to guarantee everybody is aware of our plans and find out the best way to touch us. We work intently with our companions in towns and counties to guarantee everybody is masking the roads beneath their jurisdiction. We also promote salt and different merchandise to smaller jurisdictions, that's simpler than them trucking of their very own supplies.
13. How quick does a snowplow move?
Plows usually transfer among 25 - 30 mph whereas employing product or clearing snow and ice. They ought to transfer slower so that they will discuss their process and guarantee they're working efficiently. Also, they're bigger cars and have a few restricted sight lines. If plows are operating at upper pace they throw snow off the aspects too quick and too hard, that's not safe.
 |
| Our snowplow operators have limited sight range so drivers should always give them plenty of room as they work to keep our highways safe. |
14. Can we shift resources from one area to another if the storm path changes?
Yes, we are able to and we do. This should be staff, tools or provides and is balanced on the place the want is the greatest. In a few statewide occasions - like this coming weekend - there should also be fewer unaffected parts to pull from, but managers nonetheless speak and prioritize founded mostly on wants and conditions.
15. I realize you've got much of roads which might possibly be seen priorities. When deciding which of these roads to handle and handle first, are you drawing from on-the-ground reports/data, digital camera information, historic problem with the road, or only a combination depending on conditions?
The brief reply is all the above.
All these varieties of news cross into remedy plans as properly as any modifications that should also be made as conditions swap or we note new issues. This should be a quickly discussion among plow drivers as they hand over vehicles - like a specific facet alongside a route might well use a few additional work - or additional formal as we judge to re-deploy vehicles to one other area.
Comments
Post a Comment