As UDOT plows stay busy, snowplow spending trends upward

SALT LAKE CITY—It’s safe to say it’s been a very busy week (and winter) for snowplow drivers with the Utah Department of Transportation.

Many areas along the Wasatch Front got more than a foot of fresh snow this week. And on Friday morning, Utah County drivers were greeted with even more snow.

So with all of the snow from a storm system that blew in on Tuesday many UDOT plow drivers have been on 12-hour rotations to keep up with the snowfall.

“It’s been very busy … we’re really proud of the work that they’ve been doing,” said UDOT’s John Gleason. “They’re tired … it’s been nonstop.”

Snowplow funding

Gleason said his department gets about $24 million a year for snow removal or about $1 million per storm.

Compared to this time last year, Gleason said they’re trending ahead, but they do have room to move funds around if they start to go over their budget.

“We can pull from other areas of maintenance that maybe aren’t as critical of activities that can be pushed off,” Gleason said.

Drivers and snowplow operators may not get much of a chance to breathe before the next potential storm. It’s predicted to hit later in the day on Sunday.

“For our plow operators it is so incredible the work that they do … to make the roads safer,” Gleason said. “(They’re) the heroes of the road.”

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