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UDOT preps for overnight snow

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COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS, Utah -- Hundreds of plow machines were cleaned and millions of gallons of salt brine was prepped as The Utah Department of Transportation prepared for snow to fly Monday night.

UDOT expects to see a rougher winter since the weather forecasters have said this is an El Niño year.

Employees cleaned 508 snow plow machines and plan to use 1.8 million gallons of salt brine, which is enough to fill 2 3/4 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Each year, the department spends $22 million on snow removal, and each winter storm costs them about $1 million.

“El Niño, it depends on when it shifts,” said UDOT’s Roadway Operations Manager, Jake Brown.  “But it will be better than last winter. So we will be ready to go. We have a team of forecasters to keep us up to date on when the storms are coming. And how much potential for each area.”

UDOT also warns drivers to stay alert while near the large snow plows.

“They are dangerous and some have three blades so pay attention to all sides of a plow machine,” Brown said.

Statewide, there are 572,386 winter-related accidents on the roads, and 2,400 deaths.