Iowa DOT prepares snow plow crews for winter

DAVENPORT, Iowa (KWQC) – With wintry weather, crews across the Quad Cities area have been getting their snow plows ready for the season.

Since Labor Day, Iowa DOT employees have been preparing more than two dozen trucks at the Davenport shop for the first snowfall. Including Highway Maintenance Supervisor Ben Petty.

With a team of full-time and seasonal workers, Petty and his team have planted plows, changed oil and completed refresher training.

“We have 500 lane miles of main road here at the Davenport Maintenance Garage that we take care of. About 208 of those miles are interstate highways, so we handle all of the interstate and major highways in Scott County for the Iowa DOT,” Petty said.

Quad Cities snow plow crews are also ready for the first storm. Crews on both sides of the river are fully staffed and stocked with salt.

“Our highways are our top priority and we want them to be back to seasonal conditions within 24 hours of the storm passing. It’s quite a process these days, and we’ll start it before Labor Day,” Petty said.

Petty continued that every winter storm is different, so exact cleanup times can never be predicted. However, you can observe in real time where snowplow drivers are on their route.

“There is a 511 app. “It has winter road weather information,” Petty said. “It has information about the plow camera so you can see what the ride looks like in real time from the driver’s window, and there are traffic cameras there so you can really see everything from there.”

The Iowa Department of Transportation’s goal during the winter season is to return roads to somewhat normal winter driving conditions as quickly as possible following a winter storm.

The department works around the clock to clear roads of snow and ice. Your Responsibility: Operate your vehicle safely.

“My recommendations to the public are to slow down, buckle up, put yourself in a safety situation so you can react to the person around you so you can react if they make a mistake, and do a lot. “Maintaining distance between yourself and others. If you come across a snow plow, I would just give it plenty of room and slow down,” Petty said.

Some additional tips Petty adds include:

• Ensure vehicles are in good operating condition for winter operation.
• Take time to check the weather and road conditions.
• Use good driving skills to avoid losing control of your vehicle.
• Work safely around snow removal equipment.

However, the Iowa DOT continues to search for seasonal workers throughout the state. A CDL license is required.

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