West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) garages across the state have been busy preparing for Snow Removal and Ice Control (SRIC) operations as the cold weather months are ahead.
Dry runs for snow removal and ice control are happening across the state as garages check equipment and gather supplies, according to a news release from the West Virginia Department of Transportation.
“Our operators are assigned to continue to perform SRIC operations until all roads are addressed -- on a 24-hour, seven-day-per-week basis,” said Joe Pack, P.E., West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) Chief Engineer of Operations, in a statement.
More than 1,000 snowplows will be used to maintain West Virginia roadways with a stockpile of more than 230,000 tons of salt, according to the news release.
If the WVDOH knows a storm is coming and if conditions are cold and dry, they may pre-treat roads ahead of the snow with brine to make it harder for snow to stick and make it easier for plows to scrape snow from the road surface. But if it’s wet and rainy the brine would just wash away.
“Trucks and drivers are always on standby and ready to address roadway conditions hours before the snow begins falling,” said Pack. “Drivers will stay on patrol within their assigned areas, until the storm passes and conditions improve.”
All roads maintained by the WVDOH and Parkways Authority fit into one of four priorities and are addressed as the storm conditions dictate. Priority one routes include Interstate, Expressway, National Highway System, and all other United States and West Virginia routes. Priority two routes are all other school bus routes that are not considered Priority one. Priority three routes are the remaining routes, not including park and forest routes. Priority four routes are park and forest routes.
Once Priority one routes are deemed in accessible condition, WVDOH operators move those secondary routes in Priority two and three. However, as snow returns, WVDOH operators return to the Priority one routes.
WVDOH reminds drivers to take it slow when there is ice and snow and to be careful near snowplows. If a motorist attempts to pass a snowplow, make sure the plow driver can see the motorist. When a plow is approaching from the opposite direction, pull over as far to the right as is safe.
Source: West Virginia Department of Transportation, WCHSTV.com
