With Old Man Winter lurking around the corner, the NTTA Maintenance Department is completing preparations to protect drivers from snow and ice during the upcoming season.
The NTTA recently added nine new snowplows to its fleet – a first for the Authority. Something else new for this season: six spreaders that will add a liquid de-icing material directly to sand as it is spread. This combined operation will reduce sanding truck passes by half.
This year, drivers on NTTA roadways will notice that the Authority is transitioning to darker sand. This will allow drivers to more easily see where material has been applied and drive on the treated surface with increased confidence. The NTTA will also continue to use “Meltdown 20” brand magnesium chloride, a granular de-icer.
With two new interchanges and a major extension coming on-line on the NTTA System, there will be more lanes to oversee. NTTA maintenance crews will now be responsible for treatment of 827 lane miles, a 10 percent increase from 2010-11. Of that, 270 lane miles – a 16 percent increase from last year – are elevated structures that need increased attention because they freeze first during bad weather.
Here is how the NTTA will clear snow and ice by the numbers:
- 74 sanding/plowing routes (five more routes than last year)
- 79 dump trucks with large spreaders
- Six new spreaders capable of dispensing liquid de-icing material directly onto sand as it is spread
- Nine snow plows added this year
- 18 dually pickup trucks with small spreaders assigned to oversee stockpile operation, crew transport and “hotshot” treatment of trouble areas.
- 14 front end loaders stationed at sand stockpiles
- 2,000 tons (4 million pounds) of MD-20 and 12,000 tons of sand
Snow and ice could be on the way to North Texas soon, but the NTTA has been planning for it since the days of triple digit heat. The NTTA held two “snow and ice rodeos” already this fall to gear up. The first event covered plan review and equipment training for crews. During the second event, crews drove assigned routes and checked maps for accuracy. Additional training sessions will be held approximately every two weeks, or until winter weather rolls into town.
If the winter weather affects NTTA toll roads, log on to www.NTTA.org for updates about road conditions as needed.