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news release

P.O. Box 600
Trenton, NJ

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

RELEASE: February 10, 2006

 

NJDOT prepares for coming winter storm 

Acting Commissioner Kolluri highlights Departmental procedures

(Trenton) Acting Commissioner Kris Kolluri today assured motorists that NJDOT is prepared to clear snow and ice from roadways statewide in anticipation of the impending snowfall this weekend. NJDOT has maintained its salt and liquid calcium inventories, fitted its trucks with plows and is ready to deploy personnel to ensure motorist safety. In addition, NJDOT has already introduced several new initiatives this winter to prevent the formation of ice on specific roadways.


"NJDOT is prepared to clear New Jersey's roadways and maintain safety throughout the anticipated snowstorm," said Kolluri. "NJDOT's crews will combine innovative technology and their tremendous experience to fight the expected snowstorm."

 

NJDOT budgeted $11.3 million for winter 2005-2006.   An additional $10 million is available through special appropriations, and may be necessary for this storm. NJDOT thus far has spent $11 million on snow preparedness.

 

NJDOT stands ready to deploy more than 600 in-house trucks to plow snow and spread salt on New Jersey's 16,000 lane miles of interstate and state highways.   NJDOT will augment its forces with up to 1,100 contractor trucks, depending on the severity of the storm.    In addition to the regular maintenance staff of 735 employees NJDOT has more than 400 volunteer plow operators available if needed.  

 

NJDOT currently has 107,000 tons of salt and 500,000 gallons of liquid calcium ready to go.   The material is housed at 74 salt storage facilities statewide, including 47 domars and 27 sheds.

To help keep crews informed on road conditions NJDOT maintains 32 remote weather stations along the state highway system. 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 this winter introduced several new measures to improve the efficiency of its storm cleanup by preventing the formation of ice. NJDOT initiated 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's partners at NJ Transit, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the South Jersey Transportation Authority are working alongside NJDOT to maintain safe conditions over the weekend. NJ TRANSIT will position rail crews and standby diesel engines at key locations in anticipation of the storm.   Regional supervisors will be on duty 24-hours-a-day to check roads conditions and assist bus operators and customers and develop detours if needed.   Maintenance staff will be on standby at facilities.   Approximately 35 Special Assignment employees will responsible for snow plowing, salting, and shoveling during and after the storm.   Contractors will plow and salt major park and ride locations.   Also, Light Rail Vehicles will operate continuously throughout storm.   Snow sweeping equipment will operate in the yard to keep switches clear.

 

The New Jersey Turnpike Authority, which operates the NJ Turnpike and Garden State Parkway, also is preparing its resources to combat the snow. The NJTA plans to deploy 173 trucks using 31,000 tons of salt and 75,000 gallons of liquid calcium on to the two major state highways, with a 6 a.m. start.   An additional 103 contractor plow trucks will be on call along with 6 loaders.

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.   They have 4,000 tons of salt on hand and 600 gallons of calcium.

 

Motorists are advised to refer to NJDOT's website at www.transportation.state.nj.us for real-time information regarding road conditions. Additional commuter information can be found at www.njtransit.com , www.state.nj.us/turnpike/ and www.sjta.com.

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