Lettiere
outlines winter storm preparedness
NJDOT
to initiate new anti-icing programs
(TRENTON)
- Commissioner Jack Lettiere today assured motorists that NJDOT
is prepared to clear snow and ice from roadways statewide during
the upcoming winter season. NJDOT has filled its salt and liquid
calcium inventories, fitted its trucks with plows and is ready
to deploy personnel to ensure motorist safety. NJDOT also will
introduce several new initiatives to prevent the formation of
ice.
"As winter approaches, NJDOT crews statewide are prepared
to clear our highways and maintain motorist safety and mobility,"
said Commissioner Lettiere. "NJDOT road crews boast new technology
and tremendous experience in fighting these storms."
While
visiting the NJDOT Secaucus Maintenance Yard, Lettiere explained
NJDOT's annual snow-clearing procedures and the introduction of
new technology to combat winter storms. NJDOT has $11.3 million
budgeted for winter 2005-2006 and an additional $10 million is
available should the Department exhaust its initial allocation.
NJDOT
this winter is introducing several new measures to improve the
efficiency of its storm cleanup by preventing the formation of
ice. NJDOT is initiating a pilot program using brine solution,
which is a mixture of salt and water, to prevent icing by pre-treating
select segments of state highways and 25% of the New Jersey interstate
highway system. The use of brine, which costs 64 cents less per
gallon than liquid calcium, will save taxpayer dollars and enable
NJDOT to more efficiently clear roadways.
NJDOT
procured nine brine manufacturing systems, 12 brine application
trucks and spray applicators and three state-of-the art combination
brine/salt spreaders. The Department also is modifying 111 trucks
to enable them to utilize on-board saddle tanks that more efficiently
apply brine solution.
In
anticipation of winter 2005-2006, NJDOT installed an anti-icing
station on I-78 at Jugtown Mountain in Bethlehem Township , Hunterdon
County . This system uses liquid potassium acetate to prevent
icing conditions.
NJDOT
is ready to deploy more than 600 trucks to plow snow and spread
salt on New Jersey 's 16,000 lane miles of interstate and state
highways. In the event of a major storm, NJDOT will augment its
forces with up to 1,100 contractor trucks. NJDOT maintains 735
regular maintenance staff and 400 trained volunteers to administer
its winter readiness program.
NJDOT
begins the snow season with approximately 153,803 tons of salt
and 500,000 gallons of liquid calcium on hand. The materiel is
housed at 74 salt storage facilities statewide, including 47 domars
and 27 sheds. NJDOT stores its equipment and administers its winter
readiness plan at 73 maintenance yards located across the state.
NJDOT
maintains 32 remote weather stations along the state highway system
that help keep crews informed of road conditions. These stations
provide detailed information on weather and road conditions in
specific regions of the state. The data provided by these stations
includes air temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction and
road and bridge surface temperatures. Monitors also show whether
pavement is wet, where salt has been applied and the type and
intensity of precipitation. These weather stations augment weather
forecasts supplied to NJDOT by a weather forecasting company.
NJDOT's
partners at NJ Transit, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and
the South Jersey Transportation Authority are working with NJDOT
to maintain safe conditions during the winter months. NJ TRANSIT
has inspected over 750 switches and switch heaters, overhead wire
systems, 12 moveable bridges and wayside power at storage yards
and terminals. Rail mechanical personnel have inspected and winterized
1000 rail cars and 150 locomotives. Bus maintenance personnel
have checked the heating systems, engine fluids, tires, windshield
wipers, doors and airbrake systems in NJ TRANSIT's 2000 buses.
The
New Jersey Turnpike Authority, which operates the NJ Turnpike
and Garden State Parkway , also is marshalling its resources.
The NJTA is prepared to deploy 314 trucks using 20,000 tons of
salt for the roads on the Parkway. 150 trucks using 30,000 tons
of rock salt will begin patrolling the turnpike before dawn when
snow is expected. 120 additional contractor plow trucks will be
on call.
The South Jersey Transportation Authority, which operates the
Atlantic City Expressway, has filled salt domes at its three storage
locations and is prepared to fuel and load at least six vehicles
with salt and chemicals.
