MoDOT gets ready for winter weather

The Missouri Department of Transportation prepares its workers for winter weather, so they’re ready when the first snow hits Mid-Missouri.

“We as operators want to be safe. We want to keep the traveling public safe. So, if you could just give us a little bit of room. Just be patient with us and know that we are trying to clear the roads as best as we can,” said Josh Shauer, MoDOT snowplow driver.

This is the fourth year MoDOT is putting its crews through a winter weather dry run. The MoDOT central district has almost 600 employees who clear snow, and to re-familiarize themselves with winter operations, workers were out driving plows through an obstacle course, dumping salt into trucks and putting chains on tires.

“We’re prepared for the winter that comes our way. If you look at past history, the last 10 years, and we kind of have a game plan of where we prepare ourselves from that track record,” said Randy Aulbur with MoDOT.

Clearing snow off interstates and highways around Mid-Missouri is not easy or cheap. Last year it cost $49.1 million, and the year before, with a snowy winter, it cost $73 million.

For drivers like Shauer, a snowy winter means long days. Drivers can spend as much as 10 hours in their trucks.

“Yeah, they’re long hours, but it’s fun keeping people safe and knowing that you’re doing a public service,” said Shauer.