MoDOT Central District looking at buying more salt after rough start to winter
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Missouri Department of Transportation Central District says it is looking into buying more salt after using more than half of its supply this winter.
Assistant Maintenance Engineer Paul Denkler said the district has used 24,000 tons of salt and chemicals this winter. The district started the winter with 38,000 tons.
Denkler said that in the past few years, the district has used around 31,000 to 32,000 tons of salt.
"We're in a good position right now, but we still have to put a lot of material down," Denkler said Wednesday afternoon.
The district has 225 trucks spread across its 24 buildings. During major weather events, the district keeps all of the trucks in service 24 hours a day.
Denkler said road crews take 12-hour shifts during weather events. The district will even put in hotels some drivers who have to travel a long distance.
Several multi-day storm systems have battered Mid-Missouri roads this winter. Denkler said crews were on the roads 19 days in January.
"It's been a long winter for our guys so far," Denkler said. "That does kinda wear on you. We try to get these guys as many breaks as we can, get them time off to rest and recoup so they can get back out there."
