Northwest Iowa — The Iowa Department of Transportation has been preparing for a couple of days for the first statewide winter storm of the season that we are now experiencing.
Winter Operations Administrator, Craig Bargfrede, says the operators of the 902 plow trucks were making sure they have what they need to clear the roads.
Like a lot of other Iowans, Bargfrede and the D-O-T crews have been trying to determine where the storm would hit.
He says they have a new tool this year — a G-P-S system in the trucks which will send back lots of information once they are out in the storm.
He says they’ve done some pre-treating of roadways, but putting down more salt brine and salt doesn’t help in certain conditions.
Winter operations can sometimes be in full swing in November, but that hasn’t been the case this year with unseasonably warm weather last month.
The plows haven’t been out much and that means motorists haven’t been on the road with them. Bargfrede asks that everyone take the proper precautions.
The entire state is blanketed with winter weather watches and warnings, and most of the state is expected to get some snow.
