Date:  Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Contact: Al Gilson, Communications Manager
WSDOT Eastern Region
2714 N. Mayfair
Spokane, WA  99207
(509)324-6015
gilsona@wsdot.wa.gov

SPOKANE –With winter upon us, crews from the Washington State Department of Transportation, Eastern Region are now fully prepared to handle snow and ice control duties. About 200 crew members working two shifts, seven days per week are assigned to the 1,600 miles of state highways in the seven northeastern counties in the state, including Washington’s highest mountain pass-Sherman Pass at 5,575 feet above sea level. The Region snow and ice control cost is about $13.7 million for the two-year budget cycle.

Snow and ice control crews and equipment are based at 20 locations throughout the region. The crews use 93 snowplows, most of which include a truck-mounted road sander as their primary tool. The Region also operates 14 liquid anti-ice chemical trucks. When the big snows fall and are combined with high winds, like last winter, three highway snow blowers are put into service to clear drifts. Maintenance teams are normally on duty from around 4:00 a.m. to midnight or later. The exact hours of each shift will vary slightly at different locations.

Ultimately, drivers are responsible to operate their vehicles in a safe manner during winter road conditions. Most winter collisions result from drivers traveling too fast for conditions and following too closely.

Motorists also need to keep some tips in mind for winter driving.
- Clear snow and ice from all windows before you drive.
- Pay attention. Don’t try to out-drive the conditions.
- Leave plenty of room for stopping.
- Leave room for maintenance vehicles and plows. Stay back at least 200 feet. There may be flying sand from the back of the truck.
- Never pass a snowplow on the right. There may be a wing plow blade extending out from the plow truck, plus the plow is probably pushing snow off to the right.
- Remember, the road behind the plow is better than the road in front of it.
- Know the current conditions. Keep a close eye on current weather conditions and the weather forecasts through the media or internet weather sources.
- Call 5-1-1 or (800) 695-ROAD for traveler information. Winter road conditions on major state highways within the seven-county Eastern Region are also posted on the internet and updated twice per day. The address is: http://wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/trafficalerts/
- Don’t get overconfident in your 4x4 vehicle or with studded tires.
- Watch out for slippery bridge decks, even when the rest of the road is in good condition.
- Don’t use cruise control.
- Look farther ahead in traffic than you normally do.
- Don’t follow too closely.
- Slow down!

In general, when traveling during the winter months, motorists should always be prepared for a variety of roadway and weather conditions. While the WSDOT is making every effort to maintain the highways in the best condition possible, based on these goals, conditions and weather can change rapidly, resulting in a more challenging travel experience. Drivers need to check ahead for road and weather conditions prior to starting their journey. This information is available from the WSDOT internet site at: http://wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/trafficalerts/ or by using a home telephone or cellular phone to dial the 5-1-1 traffic and road condition information service.

In Eastern Washington, the winter season is typified by periodic snowfall events, freezing temperatures for the duration of the winter season, and generally drier conditions than are experienced in western parts of the state. This drives the WSDOT approach of more extensive anti-icing and more snow removal. The winter maintenance program, consisting of labor, equipment, and materials, is sized to facilitate the movement and safety of traffic under normal, expected winter conditions.

Due to the ever-changing nature of winter weather and the resulting road condition variations, WSDOT maintenance personnel use a variety of treatments for snow and ice at different times in different places. The WSDOT directs snow and ice control efforts on state highways based on several road condition goals for each section. The goals have been set in order for the Department to allocate staff, equipment, materials, and financial resources in the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible. Results of snow and ice control treatments will vary, dependent on a number of factors including severity and type of winter weather, funding levels, geography, traffic volumes, traffic speeds, equipment, and staffing levels.

As expected, the Department’s greatest efforts are directed to major highways such as Interstate 90. Other highways are also assigned appropriate service levels. These service levels range from level one to level four. The service levels are the expected condition after the treatments are completed and, of course, when the storm is over. On a Level 1 roadway the Department attempts to make the roadway bare and dry or bare and wet as soon as possible. Level two roadways may have snow and ice buildup at times. Level three roadways can have a snow and ice buildup on a regular basis and level four sections are often covered with compact snow. Each service level has a corresponding roadway treatment action using liquid anti-ice chemicals, solid chemical treatment, plows, and sand.

Specifically, the major roadway sections and their corresponding snow and ice service level is as follows: Interstate 90 in Adams, Lincoln, and Spokane counties is the only Level 1 section in the Eastern Region. Level 2 sections include US 2 from Davenport to Spokane and from Spokane to Newport, all of US 195, US 395 in Adams County and from Spokane to Kettle Falls, and SR 20 from Republic to Tiger Junction. Other Level 2 road sections are: all of SR 27, SR 270, and SR 290, plus SR 291 from Spokane to Suncrest, SR 902 from Medical east to I-90 and SR 904 from Cheney north to I-90. All other state highway sections in the Eastern Region are Level 3 or Level 4. There are no Level 5 (seasonal closure) roadways in our Region.

Motorists can see the exact highway sections and snow and ice control level of service on the Internet at: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/regions/eastern/winter

The WSDOT program is based on history and the expected average conditions of winter for Eastern Washington. Exceptional winter weather in Eastern Washington is typically going to be a widespread ice storm or a snowstorm of very severe intensity, duration, and expanse. Since this happens infrequently, it would be an inefficient management of resources to size the winter maintenance program for this type of exceptional winter weather event, as there would be an excess of equipment and workforce sitting idle for most of the winter season. Therefore, when the rare, extremely severe winter weather occurs, the Department is unable to respond to the accustomed level due to a “shortage” of resources. The short-term consequences of this scenario would be far outweighed by consequences of wasted resources if the program were based on the worst scenario that could possibly happen. Again, while the posted roadway condition goals may not be met during a storm, WSDOT crews will keep working until the goals are achieved.

Liquid and solid chemicals, plus sand, are important tools in snow and ice control. Along with snowplows, the WSDOT uses sand and chemicals as part of the total snow and ice control program. In past years, the primary winter traction aid used on state highways was sand. Now, liquid and solid chemicals have become an important component in the snow and ice control program. The Department uses magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, and salt are chemicals that are used in the snow and ice control process. All of these products have advantages and disadvantages, but the safety aspect of these chemicals cannot be overlooked. The Department is using less traction sand than it did in the past. Although sand is still used, it has several disadvantages: Sand cannot be applied to a dry highway in anticipation of a storm — it blows off as a result of vehicle traffic. Sand is pulverized into dust, and during warmer weather creates pollution concerns in many communities. The abrasive qualities of sand act like sandpaper and can remove highway paint markings, plus the flying sand particles can damage vehicle paint and glass.

The Department uses liquid anti-icing chemicals in its snow and ice control program. Liquid chemicals such as magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, or salt brine are used prior to storms to keep snow from bonding to the roadway, as de-icing chemicals to melt snow and ice after it has fallen, and as pre-wetting agents to help keep sand from blowing off the roadway. A disadvantage of these liquid chemicals is the possibility of corrosion on some metals. Any snow melting chemical can corrode some metals if left on vehicles for extended periods. The Department is also using rock salt. The advantage of salt is its cost and snow melting capabilities. Of course, salt can also cause corrosion in some metals. To combat this, an anti-corrosion chemical is added to the salt.

Salt, magnesium chloride, or calcium chloride if left on unprotected metal, have been known to cause some damage to vehicles. As a precaution, it’s good advice to wash your car during the winter months. Just as the WSDOT needs to make the effort to provide safer roads in the winter and use every tool available, it’s also important for motorists to protect the investment in their vehicle.

During the severe winter of 2007-2008, the Eastern Region was hit with a series of heavy snowstorms accompanied by high winds. Several sections of State highways were closed, some for several days, due to snowdrifts blocking the roadways. When these conditions occur and roads are fully closed to traffic, vehicles are not allowed to travel on these sections. Do not drive past “Road Closed” signs. The highway may look OK, but it may narrow and be fully impassable a short distance ahead. Highway crews and law enforcement may not be patrolling “closed” roadways. If drivers become stuck or go off the roadway, help may not be immediately available. In addition, during a storm like this, crews may not be working to open the road, as continuing snow and wind could just block the roadway a short time later. When the crews are able to begin clearing drifts from the highway, traffic still may be restricted from entry. The drift removal is a slow and very labor-intensive process with equipment that could be blocking the road during clearing operations with no space available for vehicles to pass. When the roadway is clear and safe for travel, crews will remove the closure signs and allow traffic access. Motorists should monitor media outlets, call the 5-1-1 travel information service, or check the web site for updates.

Remember, slow down and don’t follow too closely. Drive safe this winter.

A color chart and region map describing the levels of service and showing the levels for all Eastern Region highway sections is available at: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/regions/eastern/winter

< Back to News Home