TxDOT: Snow prompts call for reinforcements

TxDOT calls in reinforcements, explains the nuts and bults of its efforts

TxDOT spokeswoman Cynthia Northup White helps explain how, exactly, crews go about clearing the roads in the Dallas-area. She said that the Dallas district has 16 snow plows, and the Tarrant district has 14. Dallas-side has two bladers and over 120 pieces of equipment -- a mix, she says, of 6- and 10-year trucks with spreader boxes, liquid deicing trucks, safety trucks, snow plpows, bladers, and more. Operating those rigs are more than 200 workers across the district, which includes a lot territory: Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Kaufman , Navarro and Rockwall counties.

They have been "working 12-hour shifts, 24/7, since late Monday evening/early Tuesday morning," White said. "This latest shift started at midnight, which is approximately when the snow began. It has been snowing for a good 6 hours with more to come. The strategy is to start with priority one routes clearing the right lane (followed by application of sand, sand/salt mixture and/or liquid choride mag or meltdown 20 (both de-icing agents). The challenge has been once plowing started the snow kept coming. We have been in areas plowiing multiple times."

Some of the sites with multiple runs have included the High Five, I-30, I-35, Loop 12, Spur 408, I-635, she said.

"We already have mobilized much of our Snow and Ice plans resulting in shifting and targeting resources (manpower, equipment, materials) from other areas such as Amarillo, Altanta, Brownwood and Childress Districts along with resources from Houston, Waco and Paris Distircts. We are currently mobilizing more snow plows from other districts such as Lubbock and additional snow plows from Amarillo. The total additonal snow plows is 44 (for both districts) with an additional 50 manpower."

How are the roads to be treated or plowed selected?

"Priority routes are primarily determined by traffic volumes so Interstates, US Highways and State Highways along with bridges, overpasses and ramps are priority," she said.