Nov. 30, 2004

For more information contact:
Dennis Burkheimer
515-290-2713

DOT ready to battle winter storm

AMES, Iowa –- The Iowa Department of Transportation is geared up and already on the move for this winter’s upcoming storms.

Dennis Burkheimer, DOT winter operations administrator, says the DOT’s maintenance facilities are prepared for the challenge of winter weather in Iowa. The DOT’s 110 maintenance garages employ approximately 1,200 equipment operators, mechanics and supervisors to keep the agency’s 898 trucks on the road during a winter weather event.

“We’re prepared with a stockpile of approximately 163,000 tons of salt and more than
one million gallons of salt brine to help maintain safe travel on 9,409 miles of roadway,” said Burkheimer

Pavement temperature is one of the keys to determining how the DOT will treat the roadways during a winter storm. Burkheimer says that earlier in the winter season ground temperatures help warm the surface temperature. While in the middle of the winter and during the spring, subsurface temperatures will often keep the pavement temperature colder than the air temperature.  Burkheimer says research shows salt is a very effective deicer when pavement temperatures are above 15 degrees Fahrenheit, but are less effective at lower pavement temperatures. These studies show it takes eight times as much salt to melt a pound of ice at 15 degrees as it does at 30 degrees.

The DOT uses a network of 53 Roadway Weather Information System (RWIS) sensors that report current pavement and subsurface temperatures along with other weather information, to help snowfighters determine how to treat roadways.  The DOT also employees a licensed meteorological service to provide customized weather forecasting to all maintenance garages throughout the winter season. 

During any winter weather event, the DOT urges motorists to plan ahead for travel. Postpone your trip if it is not absolutely necessary to travel. If you must travel, check the weather on television or radio, or on the Internet at the DOT’s weather Web site, www.dotweatherview.com. Pavement temperature and portions of the DOT’s customized weather forecasts, along with other weather information, is available on the Web site.

To find current road conditions, log on to 511ia.org or iowaroadconditions.org for the latest road conditions. Once you’re on your way, you can call 511 to check conditions on your route.

Burkheimer also cautions motorists to buckle up, turn on headlights, stop the use of cruise control, and reduce speeds.

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