Snow and ice removal is a core service at ODOT that has an immediate impact on motorist safety and the state’s economy. This season, District Two has 250 trained drivers and 125 snowplows ready to clear snow and ice from more than 3,567 district lane miles.
ODOT snowplow drivers are some of the best trained in the nation. Annually, drivers are required to attend a Smart Salt Summit and Snow School, which is designed to educate students on new technologies and practices.
During the 2010-2011 winter season, snowplow drivers spent 700,000 hours plowing and treating Ohio’s roadways and bridges – that’s continuous plowing for nearly 79.5 years straight! Earlier this year ODOT was able to save nearly $2 million on its annual salt purchase – or roughly $2.00 per ton. The savings were realized thanks to a change in Ohio law which now gives ODOT flexibility to purchase salt from a variety of vendors, making the salt bids more competitive.
Last winter, ODOT used nearly 730,000 tons of salt and invested $85 million to keep highways and bridges safe and passable throughout the season.