NJDOT
prepares for coming winter storm
Acting
Commissioner Kolluri highlights Departmental procedures
(Trenton) Acting Commissioner Kris Kolluri today assured motorists that
NJDOT is prepared to clear snow and ice from roadways statewide
in anticipation of the impending snowfall this weekend. NJDOT
has maintained its salt and liquid calcium inventories, fitted
its trucks with plows and is ready to deploy personnel to ensure
motorist safety. In addition, NJDOT has already introduced several
new initiatives this winter to prevent the formation of ice on
specific roadways.
"NJDOT
is prepared to clear New Jersey's roadways and maintain safety
throughout the anticipated snowstorm," said Kolluri. "NJDOT's
crews will combine innovative technology and their tremendous
experience to fight the expected snowstorm."
NJDOT
budgeted $11.3 million for winter 2005-2006. An additional
$10 million is available through special appropriations, and may
be necessary for this storm. NJDOT thus far has spent $11
million on snow preparedness.
NJDOT
stands ready to deploy more than 600 in-house trucks to plow snow
and spread salt on New Jersey's 16,000 lane miles of interstate
and state highways. NJDOT will augment its forces with
up to 1,100 contractor trucks, depending on the severity of the
storm. In
addition to the regular maintenance staff of 735 employees NJDOT
has more than 400 volunteer plow operators available if needed.
NJDOT
currently has 107,000 tons of salt and 500,000 gallons of liquid
calcium ready to go. The material is housed at 74 salt
storage facilities statewide, including 47 domars and 27 sheds.
To
help keep crews informed on road conditions
NJDOT maintains 32 remote weather stations along the state highway
system. 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
this winter introduced several new measures to improve the efficiency
of its storm cleanup by preventing the formation of ice. NJDOT
initiated 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's
partners at NJ Transit, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and
the South Jersey Transportation Authority are working alongside
NJDOT to maintain safe conditions over the weekend. NJ TRANSIT
will position rail crews and standby diesel engines at key locations
in anticipation of the storm. Regional supervisors will
be on duty 24-hours-a-day to check roads conditions and assist
bus operators and customers and develop detours if needed.
Maintenance staff will be on standby at facilities. Approximately
35 Special Assignment employees will responsible for snow plowing,
salting, and shoveling during and after the storm. Contractors
will plow and salt major park and ride locations. Also,
Light Rail Vehicles will operate continuously throughout storm.
Snow sweeping equipment will operate in the yard to keep
switches clear.
The
New Jersey Turnpike Authority, which operates the NJ Turnpike
and Garden State Parkway, also is preparing its resources to combat
the snow. The NJTA plans to deploy 173 trucks using 31,000 tons
of salt and 75,000 gallons of liquid calcium on to the two major
state highways, with a 6 a.m. start. An additional 103
contractor plow trucks will be on call along with 6 loaders.
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. They have 4,000 tons of salt on
hand and 600 gallons of calcium.
Motorists
are advised to refer to NJDOT's website at www.transportation.state.nj.us
for real-time information regarding road conditions. Additional
commuter information can be found at www.njtransit.com
, www.state.nj.us/turnpike/
and www.sjta.com.
