VTrans activates winter plow crews

Vermont residents can expect road maintenance crews to be on call around the clock starting Dec. 1. The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) will dispatch plow drivers at any hour once snow begins to fall.

Greg Smith, the regional maintenance director for VTrans Northeast, confirmed that preparation work is nearly complete. Crews across the state have spent the past weeks mounting plows and wings on their vehicles. They are also installing liquid salt systems to ensure all equipment is ready for the first storms.

The agency operates approximately 250 plow trucks on Vermont highways. These vehicles clear snow and apply treatments like salt brine and sand to improve traction. Smith noted that the agency has been working on its infrastructure since the end of last winter, a process that includes trimming trees so sunlight can reach the pavement.

One key component of the preparation involves liquid salt tanks. Smith described a tank that mounts on the back of a tandem dump truck. Each tank holds about 1,200 gallons of a mixture containing water and salt at a 23.3 concentration. The system sprays this liquid over granular dry salt as it exits the truck.

Drivers must manage multiple mechanical systems from inside the cab. These controls regulate the salt spray and position the plow blade. Smith advised motorists to avoid crowding the trucks because operators are monitoring their surroundings while managing complex equipment.

With colder temperatures expected in the near future, VTrans is finishing final checks on its fleet. The goal is to have every truck operational and staffed as soon as the first flakes hit the ground this winter.