DUNMORE, Pa. — With snow in the forecast late this week, PennDOT crews have a long to-do list like making sure the salt trucks are full.
"We're coming up with our plan in the district. We're covering our staffing, and our equipment needs rounded clock coverage, so we have operators in our trucks for the whole event basically," said Gene Perry, PennDOT's District 4 highway maintenance manager.
PennDOT says the first storm of the season is something it prepares for all year.
"We start our winter preparations in the summer, going over our winter equipment, ordering our materials, recruitment, and retention of our temporary operators," added Perry.
The Stormtracker 16 team says the snow will arrive Thursday evening and continue into Friday.
That timing is something PennDOT operators are keeping an eye on and they hope drivers are thinking about it too.
"Give our operators their space, let them do their job," said Perry. "We do not have a bare road policy. So you know when it is snowing, there's going to be snow on the roadways. We're looking for safe, passable roadways, allow a little extra time, and the biggest thing, if you could just stay off the roads, would be the best."
"The main thing is to stay off the roadways if you don't have to travel, but if you do, especially since it's transitioning from rain into snow is making sure you're not speeding, keeping the proper distance, giving yourself enough time, taking alternate routes, if possible, keeping up on our closures," said Elizabeth Fabri, District 4's safety press officer.
You can keep an eye on closures on PennDOT's 511 website by clicking here.