Tow plows to be tested in Alaska communities this spring. Juneau and Soldotna residents will be the first drivers to encounter these snow plows that clear two lanes of a road at a time. The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF) is testing the equipment in an effort to clear snow covered roads more efficiently.
Costing $90,000 each, tow plows are trailer mounted plows that are towed by a conventional snow plow truck. The truck operator can steer the tow plow from their cab, causing it to shift over into a position along the right side the plow truck. Using this equipment will let a plow truck operator traveling on the highway’s center-line clear snow all the way to the road shoulder.
Michael Coffey of the ADOT&PF says, “Several other states have been using tow plows for a few years now with great success. Normally it takes two trucks in procession to clear two lanes of traffic. With a tow plow, one truck will be able to clear two lanes of traffic and the second truck can then focus on plowing additional roads sooner. This allows the department to clear roads more efficiently and improve traveler safety.”
“At first sight, motorists may be alarmed by the extra plow blade angled out from behind the plow truck,” says Coffey. “We want to make sure that drivers aren’t caught off-guard and understand that the plow is working as intended.”
Every year the ADOT&PF encounters incidents where cars drive into snow plows. The agency asks drivers to stay at least 200 feet back from plows and not to pass them on the right. Working snow removal equipment can cause whiteouts for drivers that approach them too closely. Motorists in Alaska can check on driving conditions within the state by dialing 511 or going to the 511.alaska.gov website.