Ames, Iowa — Friday morning’s cold snap into the low 30s was a reminder for Iowans that wintery weather may not be too far away.
The Iowa Department of Transportation is already gearing up for the season ahead, even though the start of winter isn’t officially until December 21st. DOT Winter Operations Administrator Craig Bargfrede says preparations are well underway to fight snow.
The agency typically brings on more than 600 temporary workers during the winter timeframe, with many of them becoming snowplow drivers. So far, only about three dozen of those 630-plus jobs have been filled.
The DOT has 101 maintenance garages statewide that employ more than one thousand full-time equipment operators, mechanics, and supervisors. Those garages house the agency’s 902 trucks, 42 motor graders, and 32 tow plows. As far as the agency is concerned, we’re -already- in winter and it started October 15th.
DOT officials have already been meeting with officials from the National Weather Service and other agencies to get a solid feel for what icy perils may lie ahead.
Salt is a valuable snow-fighting tool, both in chunks and mixed with water to form a brine solution. While salt has been in short supply in previous years, Bargfrede says Iowa has an excellent stockpile of some 240-thousand tons of salt. Interested in a snow-fighting job with the DOT? Visit https://iowadot.gov/careers and click on the “Seasonal/Temp” tab.
You may wonder why Iowa DOT trucks sometimes spray brine on sunny days. Frost is a major safety factor this time of year. The Iowa DOT’s proactive approach of spraying brine on areas prone to frost prevents the formation of an icy layer, which typically occurs on cold, clear nights. Frost is hard to see on the road’s surface and most people don’t expect it. These unexpected encounters with a frost-covered bridge or roadway can be particularly treacherous when traveling at higher rates of speed, making it more difficult to maintain control of your vehicle.
The Iowa DOT also reminds you about dialing 511, going to 511ia.org, or using the Iowa 511 app to get the latest road conditions along your route. But of course you should never use the app while driving.
