With snow in the forecast for the first time this season, the northwest region of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is reminding motorists to be prepared and slow down during inclement weather.

“The maintenance staff doesn't wait until snow is in the forecast to start preparing. We started our planning earlier this fall, so that when temperatures turn colder, we are ready," said Aaron Fox, PennDOT Assistant District 1 Executive - Maintenance. “Our plow truck operators have received their assigned routes, the garage staff is ready to assist, and plans are in place to cover overnight shifts as needed to keep the roads safe and passable."

All the counties included in District 1, which encompasses Crawford, Erie, Forest, Mercer, Venango, and Warren, have started doing preventative maintenance, mounting plows on the dump trucks, prepping other equipment, and stockpiling salt, anti-skid and other materials, which are in good supply for the coming winter season.

Plow routes in District 1 can vary in length from 25 to 70 miles and can take between one and four hours to complete depending on traffic volume, weather conditions, and other factors. Priority is typically given to roadways with the highest traffic volume, such as interstates, followed by other major roads, such as Route 62 or Route 8, and then rural routes.  

In District 1, PennDOT maintains 8,531 snow lane miles through the hard work of about 360 operators and 37 mechanics. The department is seeking additional licensed CDL equipment operators, mechanics, welders and clerks for temporary and full-time positions. Anyone interested in working for PennDOT to apply online at www.employment.pa.gov.

“We ask the public to remember that safety is the responsibility of everyone using the roadways. When driving in wintry weather, travel at a safe speed for the conditions, turn your headlights on, and don't follow too closely behind a plow truck," Fox said.

Motorists should do their part to prepare for potential wintry weather by allowing additional time in their commute and ensuring they have supplies in their vehicles, including food, water, blankets, extra gloves and hats, cell phone charger, hand or foot warmers, windshield brush and scraper, and any specialized items like medications or baby and pet supplies.

For more information on PennDOT's winter preparations and additional winter-driving resources for motorists, visit the department's winter website.

Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a free smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional X alerts.

Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Crawford, Erie, Forest, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties at www.penndot.pa.gov/District1.

Find PennDOT news for the northwest region on X or Facebook.   

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MEDIA CONTACT: Jill Harry, 814-678-5035 or jharry@pa.gov