HARRISBURG, Pa. (WPMT) As PennDOT shifts its operations from construction to winter maintenance, the department today urged motorists to join in preparing for the season and announced a new video to educate the public on PennDOT operations and safe winter driving.
The “Winter Operations” video is available highlights the department’s 5,400 operators and 2,250 trucks prepared to maintain more than 40,000 miles of state-maintained roadway or 96,000 snow-lane miles, enough miles to circle the globe nearly four times. A snow-lane is calculated as the miles of road multiplied by the number of lanes, which means a one-mile section of four-lane roadway would equal four snow-lane miles.
“PennDOT has an enormous responsibility to keep travel as safe as possible through the winter,” PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch said. “We started preparing for this winter as soon as the last one ended, and the public should be preparing themselves and their vehicles for whatever winter will throw our way.”
To prepare for winter driving, motorists should carry an emergency kit including items such as non-perishable food, water, first-aid supplies, warm clothes, a blanket, cell phone charger and a small snow shovel. However, motorists should tailor their kits to any specific needs that they or their families may have. Consider adding such items as baby supplies, extra medication, pet supplies, or even children’s games.
