SALT LAKE CITY -- Officials with the Utah Department of Transportation say more than 500 plows will work a statewide snowstorm that’s expected to linger for a couple days. The plows are loaded with 10,000 tons of salt but UDOT says it has seven times that so crews feel they’re prepared.
In the higher elevation areas such as Parley’s Canyon and the Cottonwood Canyons, crews spent Monday pre-treating many roads with a salt-water solution to keep the snow from sticking.
"Right now with this storm will be rain in the valley, you won't see us putting it down before the storm like you would up in the mountains and up in the canyons,” said Lee Nitchman, UDOT maintenance engineer. “We're pre-treating the roads with that brine.”
Crews will work around the clock and they’re warning drivers to not pass the plows. In February, a car tried to pass a plow on Interstate Highway 15, lost control, hit another vehicle then slammed into the plow.
“A couple cars tried to come out and get in front of me and they spun out and one of the ladies spun in front of my plow and I wasn't able to stop and we collided," said UDOT plower David Kelley
UDOT is warning drivers to plan ahead for a snowy commute.
