Snow and ice facts

View the Snow and Ice facts PDF version (138 KB)

 

Quick facts

• MnDOT plows about 12,000 miles of state highways and interstates in Minnesota, which equals about 31,000 lane miles. (One mile of a four-lane road equals four lane miles.) The Twin Cities Metro Area has 5,000 lane miles that MnDOT maintains.
• MnDOT has approximately 1,400 full-time snowplow drivers and 250 backup drivers. All operators are required to have a valid Class B commercial driver’s license. MnDOT also provides extensive two-week training for new operators each year at Camp Ripley, Minn., and ongoing training for veteran plow drivers.
• MnDOT has about 800 snowplows, including reserve trucks that provide backup in case a snowplow needs maintenance or is damaged.

• MnDOT has 154 truck stations statewide, with 19 of those truck stations in the Twin Cities Metro Area.

• Fully equipped trucks weigh as much as 15 times more than an average car.
• A single-axle plow (one set of wheels in the back) can weigh up to 50,000 pounds when loaded. A new single-axle truck costs $170,000.
• A tandem-axle plow (two sets of wheels in the back) can weigh more than 70,000 pounds when loaded. A new tandem truck costs $210,000.

 

Last Winter's Stats (2010-11)

• Minnesota received the most snowfall since the 1983-84 season.

  • The Twin Cities Metro Area recorded 86.6 inches of snow, an increase from 40.7 inches in 2009-10. The 10-year average season snowfall is 49.1 inches.
  • Northwestern Minnesota received the most snow with 89 inches, compared to 46.4 inches in 2009-10, and reported the most snow or ice events with 46.
  • West central Minnesota had the most severe winter conditions, calculated by snow fall totals, duration of storms, number of snow storms and number of freezing rain events.

There were 72 crashes statewide involving vehicles that hit snowplows.

Statewide, MnDOT used 267,860 tons of salt, 65,220 tons of sand and 2,544,466 gallons of salt brine. In 2009-10, MnDOT used 180,252 tons of salt, 41,833 tons of sand and 1,832,505 gallons of salt brine.

MnDOT spent $81.1 million for snow and ice removal—the highest of any season on record. The amount spent each season significantly depends on the severity of the winter. In 2009-10, MnDOT spent $59.2 million.

 

Snowplow safety

• Snowplows travel much slower than the posted speeds, because it is most effective for clearing roads. The driver’s field of vision is severely restricted behind the truck, and the driver must rely on mirrors to see to the rear and side of the truck.

• MnDOT offers these safe winter driving tips for motorists:
• Techniques—MnDOT uses several techniques to inhibit ice formation and improve roadway surface.
  • Turn on your headlights and wear your seat belt.
  • Turn off your cruise control.
  • Slow down; allow at least five car lengths between your vehicle and a plow.
  • Stay behind the snowplow. The road behind a snowplow is safer to drive on.
  • Watch for snowplows that turn or exit frequently, and often with little warning.
  • Never drive into a snow cloud.
  • Call 511 or visit www.511mn.org before leaving on your trip to get current road conditions information.
• We are in the storm together. Be patient with the snowplows and drive according to road conditions. Heavy traffic congestion affects snowplowing operations. If you are stuck in traffic, so are the snowplows.

 

Snow removal and prevention techniques

• MnDOT’s snow removal program sets goals based on public safety and driver expectations. MnDOT uses market research to determine how quickly the public expects roads to be cleared when setting a performance goal.
• Snow removal times can vary depending on moisture content of the snow, weather conditions and timing of the snow fall. A snowfall that occurs before and during a rush hour will cause more problems than snow falling from midnight to 3 a.m. Heavy, wet snow followed by a cold snap will require more time to clear than dry snow.
• MnDOT primarily uses two materials to improve roadway safety and inhibit ice formation:
  • Salt – Melts snow and ice on roads when road surface temperatures are below freezing. Salt loses its effectiveness as temperatures drop.
  • Sand – Increases traction for motorists on slippery roads, mostly used at intersections and ramps. It may also be used in extreme cold temperatures when salt is less effective.

   

  The following techniques help MnDOT be more efficient and use less salt and sand, which reduces our impact on the environment.

  • Anti-icing – Creates a barrier between the road surface and snow/ice using primarily liquids applied just before or early in a snowfall. This prevents precipitation from bonding to the road surface.
  • Pre-wetting – Creates a barrier between the road surface and snow/ice using primarily liquids applied just before or early in a snowfall. This prevents precipitation from bonding to the road surface.
  • De-icing – Uses chemical or mechanical means to break the bond that has formed between the ice and road surface.

 

Technology for predicting weather and road conditions

• MnDOT uses an advanced Road and Weather Information System and customized forecasts to track weather and pavement conditions. There are 93 RWIS stations across the state. These stations include weather sensors and sensors embedded in the roadway that gather data.
• The data from these sensors help managers determine when to mobilize staff, time chemical applications and choose the best methods and materials to use.
• MnDOT is part of a Maintenance Decision Support System study with 16 other states. The MDSS is an in-cab computer system that provides real-time weather forecasts and aids plow drivers with making decisions about what materials will be most effective for current conditions and how much of those materials should be used. This information allows MnDOT operators to maintain roads at their appropriate level of service while minimizing cost and environmental damage.

 

Visit the MnDOT Maintenance website.