No changes in winter highway maintenance

SANDPOINT — State highway motorists will see no changes in winter maintenance routines as the Idaho Transportation Department wraps its arms around a shortage in funding.

“There’s no area that won’t be plowed,” said ITD’s Panhandle region spokeswoman Barbara Babic.

There have been murmurs that winter maintenance will be scaled back due to scarce financial resources, but Babic said motorists will not see any changes in operations this winter.

“We’re right on target as far as the fiscal year goes. We used a lot of FY ’10 money to buy up our stockpiles of salt and brine. We’re ready to go,” she said.

The state is reminding motorists to keep a few safety tips in mind when they encounter plow trucks.

Motorists are recommended to stay two car lengths behind snowplow trucks as sand being spread by the trucks can damage your vehicle.

Do not pass a snowplow unless it’s absolutely necessary. Pass only if you can clearly see the road ahead and do not pass on the side where the plow is spraying snow because the force of it can knock your vehicle out of control.

When overtaking a plow, make sure your vehicle is clear of the plow blade, which is often covered with snow and can be difficult to see. Do not suddenly brake if you are traveling in front of a plow. The plow trucks are extremely heavy and cannot stop as quickly as an automobile.

Avoid abandoning your vehicle unless it’s absolutely necessary. However, if you must, leave it as far off the road as possible.

Abandoned cars can interfere with road clearing and can be extremely hazardous to plow crews.

Keep in mind that shady spots, bridges and overpasses can harbor ice.

Travelers in Idaho have new tools to keep abreast of the latest highway conditions through ITD’s 511 Traveler Services system. Up-to-date road conditions can be found on the Internet (511.idaho.gov) or by dialing 5-1-1 on your mobile or home phone.

An array of weather information, collected by ITD’s Road Weather Information System, was added to the high-bandwidth and mobile 3G sites last spring. RWIS began as an informational tool for maintenance workers to determine winter operations. It was eventually expanded to allow for public use of the system.