MANKATO, Minn. -
While we wait to see just how bad our first real snow storm is going to get, it's worthwhile to take a look at how we go about cleaning it up.
That's one of several anti-icing trucks around the area, putting down a brine that will keep snow from freezing to the road.
It's a way to get ahead of the potential mess, and part of a whole system that monitors inclement weather.
Jed Falgren, a maintenance engineer with MnDOT says, "We use a variety of technology. We have pavement sensors we have placed in the highways as well as bridges to measure current air conditions, air temperatures, relative humidity, moisture conditions - whether the pavement is wet, dry, icy."
Those monitoring sensors also provide video to help guide those back at headquarters.
As for the big picture, satellite weather equipment gives them an idea of how to schedule plowing shifts.
Falgren says, "We're not able to do 24-hour plowing in our part of the state, but we'll have our crew on tonight until 10-11 o'clock and then tomorrow morning we'll bring in another crew and they'll start 3,4 in the morning removing the snow."
And as always, MnDOT is asking drivers to be patient and careful when they come across a plow on the road.
Falgren says, "Give our plows room to work. It's incredibly important. They're out there trying to make the roadways into good winter driving conditions as quickly as possible."
