CDOT Press Release

Today, the Colorado Department of Transportation announced its plans for winter maintenance and snow removal in the Denver metro area. The plan includes the typical snow removal equipment and products that CDOT has used over the years.

“We will operate with the same number of employees and snow plows as we did last year so we can continue to provide the same level of service to the citizens of Colorado,” said CDOT Executive Director Russ George. “Safety remains our number one priority and that means our crews will be working days, nights, weekends and holidays during inclement weather to help ensure motorists reach their destinations safely.”

This winter, CDOT will have 245 employees battling winter conditions in the Denver metro area who will work in shifts from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. in order to keep 3,850 lane miles of highway clear of snow and ice. The maintenance crews will use a variety of equipment to apply solid and liquid de-icers. In all, 131 pieces of equipment will be used including 112 snow plows that apply liquid and/or solid de-icers, three 6,000-gallon tankers that apply liquid de-icers and 16 brooms to sweep up or pick up material after a storm.

In five of the snowplows, technology will help drivers determine the appropriate treatments for a roadway. The Maintenance Decision Support System (MDSS) combines advanced weather prediction, advanced road condition prediction and rules of practice for anti-icing and de-icing to generate road treatment recommendations on a route-by-route basis. The goal of MDSS is to provide more effective use of maintenance resources and increase safety, reliability and mobility on roadways.

This MDSS system allows crews to input real-time conditions, including road and ambient temperature, type of snow removal products being used and the application rate. After comparing the information to 15 weather reports, the system will then provide suggested treatments based on the information and models. The system may tell the operator to re-treat the road at a later time, apply different products at different rates or even to continue current procedures. The suggested treatment can then be followed or the operator can override the system.

Like in past years, CDOT will still continue to use liquid de-icers; Ice Slicer, a solid de-icer; and sand and salt. The two types of liquid de-icers that will be in used this winter are magnesium chloride and cold temperature magnesium chloride. Magnesium chloride* is effective at pavement temperatures above 16 degrees while cold temperature modified magnesium chloride* is effective for pavement temperatures below 16 degrees. Trucks are equipped with infrared sensors to monitor ambient and pavement temperatures throughout a storm.

“The use of our equipment, products and technology truly help us keep the roadways clear of snow and ice, but we still need the traveling public to do their part during a snow storm,” said Roy Smith CDOT Acting Maintenance Superintendent for the Denver metro area. “It is impossible for us to be on every road at once, so it is important for motorists to slow down and drive appropriately for conditions. When you encounter a plow on the road, give plenty of room and don’t pass on the right.”

Last year, CDOT used approximately 916,000 gallons of liquid de-icer and over 10,000 tons of Ice Slicer in the Denver metro area while plowing, sanding and/or de-icing nearly 543,000 miles of road. CDOT spent just under $4.7 million in the Denver area between July 2008 and June 2009, which was down 15% from July 2007 through June 2008 when CDOT spent $5.5 million.

While CDOT is prepared for the winter ahead, it is also important for motorists to be prepared. CDOT strongly encourages motorists to plan ahead by visiting www.cotrip.org or by calling 511 anywhere in Colorado. Current road and weather conditions are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week via the Web and phone.

It is also important for motorists to remember a few tips for winter driving:
• Be sure to carry plenty of windshield wiper fluid as liquid de-icers may stick to your windshield.
• Let the snowplow drivers do their jobs by giving them extra room and don’t pass on the right.
• Slow down! Even roads that have been treated with liquid de-icers may be slippery.
• Be prepared. Have a scraper, snow brush, coat, hat, gloves, blanket, first aid kit, flashlight, tire chains, matches and nonperishable food in your car.
• Make sure your tires have good tread.

Snow Removal Products:
• Magnesium Chloride in solutions up to 30% – Effective for use down to 160 F pavement surface temperature.
• Cold Temperature Modified Magnesium Chloride in solutions up to 27% magnesium chloride – Used when surface temperatures fall below approximately 150 F. Products meeting this description have a corn procession byproduct additive that greatly lowers the freezing point of magnesium chloride.
• Ice Slicer – A solid product that is mainly sodium chloride with small amounts of other materials that help this product to work at lower temperatures than pure sodium chloride. It is used to melt ice pack at curves and intersections and other spot locations that make it difficult to de-ice with liquids and for broadcast applications in PM 10 non-attainment areas. Ice Slicer tends to remain in place and persist longer between applications than liquids.