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news release

P.O. Box 600
Trenton, NJ

Contact: Brendan Gill or Erin Phalon
609-530-4280

RELEASE: November 30, 2005

 

Lettiere outlines winter storm preparedness

NJDOT to initiate new anti-icing programs

(TRENTON) - Commissioner Jack Lettiere today assured motorists that NJDOT is prepared to clear snow and ice from roadways statewide during the upcoming winter season. NJDOT has filled its salt and liquid calcium inventories, fitted its trucks with plows and is ready to deploy personnel to ensure motorist safety. NJDOT also will introduce several new initiatives to prevent the formation of ice.

"As winter approaches, NJDOT crews statewide are prepared to clear our highways and maintain motorist safety and mobility," said Commissioner Lettiere. "NJDOT road crews boast new technology and tremendous experience in fighting these storms."

While visiting the NJDOT Secaucus Maintenance Yard, Lettiere explained NJDOT's annual snow-clearing procedures and the introduction of new technology to combat winter storms. NJDOT has $11.3 million budgeted for winter 2005-2006 and an additional $10 million is available should the Department exhaust its initial allocation.

NJDOT this winter is introducing several new measures to improve the efficiency of its storm cleanup by preventing the formation of ice. NJDOT is initiating 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 is ready to deploy more than 600 trucks to plow snow and spread salt on New Jersey 's 16,000 lane miles of interstate and state highways. In the event of a major storm, NJDOT will augment its forces with up to 1,100 contractor trucks. NJDOT maintains 735 regular maintenance staff and 400 trained volunteers to administer its winter readiness program.

NJDOT begins the snow season with approximately 153,803 tons of salt and 500,000 gallons of liquid calcium on hand. The materiel is housed at 74 salt storage facilities statewide, including 47 domars and 27 sheds. NJDOT stores its equipment and administers its winter readiness plan at 73 maintenance yards located across the state.

NJDOT maintains 32 remote weather stations along the state highway system that help keep crews informed of road conditions. 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's partners at NJ Transit, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the South Jersey Transportation Authority are working with NJDOT to maintain safe conditions during the winter months. NJ TRANSIT has inspected over 750 switches and switch heaters, overhead wire systems, 12 moveable bridges and wayside power at storage yards and terminals. Rail mechanical personnel have inspected and winterized 1000 rail cars and 150 locomotives. Bus maintenance personnel have checked the heating systems, engine fluids, tires, windshield wipers, doors and airbrake systems in NJ TRANSIT's 2000 buses.

The New Jersey Turnpike Authority, which operates the NJ Turnpike and Garden State Parkway , also is marshalling its resources. The NJTA is prepared to deploy 314 trucks using 20,000 tons of salt for the roads on the Parkway. 150 trucks using 30,000 tons of rock salt will begin patrolling the turnpike before dawn when snow is expected. 120 additional contractor plow trucks will be on call.

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.

 
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  Department of Transportation
  P.O. Box 600
  Trenton, NJ 08625-0600
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  Last Updated:  January 13, 2012