Amazing Snow Fighters, Amazing Missourians

Making a snowman with your daughter.

Your son clinging to you as you sled down the hill.

Sipping hot chocolate by the fireplace with your spouse.

Snow storms like the one we just experienced sure aren't fun, but there are moments that make for fond memories. Most of us take these moments for granted.

The heroic men and women who take care of our roads, however, do not. In fact, they may never experience many of the winter activities the rest of us enjoy. That's because when it is snowing they are treating roads with salt, plowing and even assisting stranded motorists. They wouldn't have it any other way.

I am proud to work with these great folks. Over the past few days, faced with a historic snow storm, I have been reminded of the dedication and can-do attitude of the people who work tirelessly to keep our roads safe. Even at the darkest (or whitest) points of this storm when the wind was blowing the snow back on the highways about as quick as we plowed it off, our crews kept fighting. They were focused on holding their own in the battle knowing they would eventually win the war. And, while there is much work left to do, they are winning that war.

I have also been reminded of what great people live in the state of Missouri. The outpouring of support on MoDOT's Facebook page, through email, phone calls and other ways has been heartwarming. Most people didn't ask questions. They made a special effort to simply let our crews know they appreciated them and encouraged them to stay safe.

For the most part, people also heeded our strong cautions to stay off the roads if at all possible. Missourians recognized that the safest place to be was at home. This good old Missouri common sense limited accidents and allowed our snow crews to do their jobs.

The efforts of our crews and the support of Missourians remind us that transportation is indeed personal. In the coming months, we will talk more about why a safe transportation system with lots of options to get where you need to go has a personal benefit to each of us.

In the meantime, stay safe, stay warm and thank you for the support you have shown our amazing snow fighters.

Is Missouri Ready for Snowmageddon 2011?

Get ready for snow Missouri, as Redd Foxx might have said, this could be the big one. Whatever you call it - SnowMaggedon, SnowMG, Snonami, SnowNoWay, OhSnowYouDidn’t , or something else, it’s coming to the entire state. Just as you run to the store to clear out the bread aisle at the grocery store and grab an extra bag of salt to get ready, MoDOT is busy preparing well ahead of each storm also.

Hours before weather is predicted to arrive, MoDOT employees gather around the state to begin organizing and preparing for whatever Mother Nature is sending our way. Besides sending staff out to treat the roads when necessary, employees also check all supplies like salt, fuel, generators and equipment to ensure all levels will last through the coming weather. Staff from around the state also talk with each other to see where resources can be shared if necessary to ensure the roads will be kept as safe as possible.

Even as the bad weather finally hits, not only do you have staff working to keep you safe on the roads, but behind the scenes as well. Many employees stay on the phones, or monitor road conditions across the state in Emergency Operation Centers that will be staffed all hours of the day as needed.

Your best bet in weather like this is to stay at home. If you do need to travel though, plan ahead, take your time and know what you’re up against by checking the department’s Traveler Information Map. Located at www.modot.org, the map gives drivers an up-to-the-minute view of road conditions for major Missouri highways. Conditions for major routes across the state are color-coded to give visitors the information they need at a glance. Travelers can also call MoDOT’s toll-free number, 888-ASK-MODOT, to get road condition information.

So, grab your shovel and get ready…we are. Arrive Alive.

To the Point

The Missouri-made TowPLow continues to gain recognition as an innovation. What is it and how does it help your commute? Listen as MoDOT's System Management Director Don Hillis gets "To the Point" about how this unique plow is quickly becoming an important asset in the snow removal process in Missouri and across the nation.

To the Point

Behind the Scenes of MoDOT's Winter Operations

Sometimes it's the little things that count the most. While most people envision big trucks plowing snow when it comes to our winter operations, there is an awful lot that goes on behind the scenes to help you get where you're going safely when the weather turns bad.


MoDOT becomes a beehive of activity at the mere hint of snow and ice. On a local level, staff members take a look at the tools they have - weather forecasts, pavement sensors, information from other states, etc. - and put their heads together to determine the best course of action to take. Like the snowflakes falling to the ground, no two storms are alike and neither is the plan of attack.


As each area carries out its action plan for the situation at hand, the information is shared with staff statewide. We use the word "snowcall" to describe the telephone conference calls that take place to make sure we're operating efficiently and effectively on a statewide level. The calls are used to determine what areas may need additional resources, such as people or equipment, and who has staff and trucks to spare. Sometimes, it's the mention that one area is noticing a shift in the storm that puts another region on alert. Other times, it's a heads up that certain chemicals and treatments are working better than others under the particular conditions. Or perhaps its a notice that highways in neighboring states are closed and will affect Missouri travelers. A wrap-up snowcall typically takes place following each winter weather event to determine what went right and what we can do to get better.


While all this is going on behind the scenes, our customer service representatives are busy 24/7 taking calls, providing road condition information and dispatching crews to trouble spots. Other employees are busy inputting data to keep the Traveler Information Map current for motorists. Still others are feeding information to the media and public via Twitter and Facebook.


It's all hands on deck at MoDOT when it comes to keeping roads clear and safe for travel. While we can't fool Mother Nature, we do try to manage what she sends our way!

Missouri Miles

In this month's Missouri Miles, we show you how MoDOT crews work around the clock to make sure your roads are safer. Plus, a major Missouri road project wins a very prestigious award! We also give you tips on how to keep your car running smoothly in the winter and ask some of the best truck drivers in the state why it is important to Buckle Up.

And The Beet Goes On

After brutal cold and snow-covered roads last week, the recent snow storm seems to be behind us. You could sense that yesterday was back-to-normal, with schools in session and the parking garage full at work. People even seemed to be getting back to those new year's resolutions, as evidenced by the packed YMCA I visited in the evening.

It's great to see the roads clearing up and to know they're safer. But as low as temperatures were last week, did you know that salt was not the only weapon in the snowplow driver's arsenal? For the past few years, MoDOT has also been using an anti-icing product called Geomelt, made from sugar beets.

Your mom was right, vegetables really are good for you, in more ways than one. Combined with salt, the beet juice freezes at a lower temperature than just salt alone so it can be used when the weather is colder - even at temperatures closer to zero.

Adding the beet juice also reduces the corrosive properties of salt and improves its effectiveness - for our vehicles and yours. That means less salt, more efficiency and less equipment, bridge deck and vehicle corrosion.
"Anything that keeps roads safer during extreme temperatures and bad weather means more lives saved," said Jim Carney, MoDOT's State Maintenance Engineer. "Because of the great results we've seen using beet juice, we've increased usage almost 700 percent over the last couple of years."

Beet juice is a natural product that works well when mixed with either rock salt or liquid salt brine to keep ice from forming on the roads before a storm. It also helps melt snow and ice once they are already on the roads.

So keep your mom happy - eat your vegetables, and travel more safely with them, too.

Record Cold + Blowing Snow = Cautious Driving

Right now, Missouri seems more hospitable for polar bears than for people. With brutally cold temperatures and snow hitting the state today, it's awfully appealing to just stay home.

But when you need to get out, you need clear, safe roads. And MoDOT is pulling out all the equipment, people and materials needed to make your travel as safe as possible.

It's going to be tougher for this storm. Record cold and blowing snow will make clearing roads more difficult. Temperatures this low mean the salt is not as effective on ice, and the blowing snow could mean it takes longer to clear roads.

We'll add other products like calcium chloride and beet juice to the salt to help it work better as temperatures drop. But there are some additional things you can do to make your travels safe. Your caution and attention is crucial. Please don't crowd the plows or try to pass them -- they're only trying to help. Be sure to buckle up, keep your lights on and don't speed.

And be sure to know before you go. Real-time road conditions are available at http://www.modot.org/through the Traveler Information Map. The map shows routes in different colors ranging from clear, to partially covered, covered or closed to travel. You can also call MoDOT's toll-free number, 888-ASK-MODOT, to get road condition information.

Stay warm and stay safe!

May We Have Your Attention Please!

Winter is still around the corner, but winter weather is already upon us. As temperatures drop and precipitation falls, Missouri roads need some attention … And not just attention from MoDOT!

As a driver, you should turn your attention to state road conditions by visiting MoDOT’s Traveler Information Map at:

http://maps.modot.mo.gov/travelerinformation/TravelerInformation.aspx

The map gives web visitors current road condition information so they can decide whether or not to drive on Missouri roads. Drivers can see if roads are clear, partly covered, covered or closed due to snow and ice. The map also gives info on incidents, work zones and flooding for a complete snapshot of what a highway driver can expect before they leave the comfort of their home.

Of course, the map only shows the major routes that MoDOT maintains -- and weather conditions can change in an instant -- so travelers need to also pay attention to local news and any other reports on weather-related road conditions.

In the mean time, you can “know before you go” by clicking on the big state map in the center of MoDOT’s homepage. It’s your first stop for info on Missouri highways.