MoDOT stocked with salt, preparing snow removal equipment

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Local MoDOT crews are looking to do more with less this winter while helping motorists get to their destinations safely.

"We currently have all of our salt supplies stocked up with what we think will carry us through the winter," David Wyman, area engineer for the Missouri Department of Transportation's Southeast District, said Friday. "It may be necessary to recharge those supplies, but all of our sheds are full."

Preparations are made on snow removal equipment as well, he said.

"We've been doing routine maintenance on all of our spreader trucks and snowplows and they should be ready to go," Wyman said. "For the counties in the Bootheel -- Stoddard, Scott, New Madrid, Mississippi, Pemiscot and Dunklin counties -- we have about 72 snow plows that are ready to go and about 1,500 tons of salt. We used a little bit more than that last year but we're hoping GeoMelt will stretch that."

GeoMelt, a product made from sugar beet juice, is a good example of MoDOT "trying to come up with ways to make our resources more efficient," Wyman said. "We've used this product for about three years as a test product at some of our more heavily-used sheds and they liked it. This year will be the first year we use it in every shed."

When mixed with salt brine, GeoMelt lowers the freezing temperature of water even further than the salt does, he said.

"It activates that salt, allows it to work more efficiently," Wyman said. "It also allows it to spread more evenly and not wash off."

The product is better for steel bridges, he said, as they are able to cut back on the corrosive salt while still keeping the bridges clear of ice and snow.

If local stockpiles are depleted by winter events, Wyman said they can be replenished fairly quickly either by bringing materials in from other MoDOT facilities that haven't used as much or by ordering more from vendors. "We've made arrangements with our suppliers," he said.

In addition to finding ways to stretch materials, MoDOT is also using its personnel more efficiently.

"With the redistricting we have been reducing some personnel but we're also making better use of the personnel we have," Wyman said.

He explained office personnel are now licensed, trained and available for snow removal duty.

"Now pretty much when a winter advisory is called we're all pulling together and working as a team," Wyman said.

As with previous years, MoDOT plans to prioritize snow and ice removal based on traffic counts.

"We will focus on the roads that get the most use, the high volume routes. We call those our 'continuous operation routes,'" Wyman said. "We're going to work on those 24 hours a day until they are in a 'near-normal condition.'"

Lower-volume routes will also be addressed but not to the same degree as the major routes, he said.

"We're going to get those to a condition where they are passable but they're not going to be completely clear," Wyman said.

Crews will do their best to keep these roads open for two-way traffic with a focus on hills, turns and intersections.

For days there is winter weather in the forecast, Wyman urged area motorists to "be safe and when they get ready to leave, prepare accordingly -- have an emergency kit, use good common sense and if possible stay at home."

Those who must travel in winter weather are encouraged to take advantage of MoDOT's Traveler Information Map available at www.modot.org which posts information on whether a highway is closed, covered, partly covered, mostly clear or clear.

Also, the emergency operation center can be reached by calling 888-275-6636 "if people want to call and ask questions," Wyman said.

Pertinent address:

Sikeston, MO