A row of snow removal trucks were being inspected Tuesday at the Ohio Department of Transportation Garage in Marietta as part of the ODOT’s Annual Winter Readiness Event. The goal is to make sure the equipment is ready to go before the first snowfall. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

Crews were out at the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) garage in Marietta on Tuesday inspecting equipment and vehicles as part of ODOT’s Annual Winter Readiness Event.

“These events are happening at every ODOT garage over the next couple of weeks,” said Ashley Rittenhouse, Public Information Officer for ODOT District 10. “What we are doing is conducting 150 point inspections of each plow truck.

“Our mechanics are looking at everything from front to back, top to bottom and just to make sure everything is in good working order for when winter arrives.”

A press release from ODOT said the agency uses around 3,000 drivers who often work 12-hour shifts during snow and ice events.

Around 500 drivers are hired seasonally as well as other employees who do other jobs for ODOT who can step in and drive if needed.

Crews with the Ohio Department of Transportation were inspecting snow removal trucks on Monday at the ODOT District 10 garage in Marietta as part of the statewide ODOT’s Annual Winter Readiness Event. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

Statewide, crews cover 43,000 lane miles of state and U.S. routes outside municipalities and all interstates in Ohio, except the Ohio Turnpike, according to the press release.

“Ohioans count on ODOT for a safe and dependable transportation network, especially in the winter months,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine in the press release.

“I am confident that our crews are ready throughout the state to take on upcoming winter weather conditions.”

ODOT District 10 serves Athens, Gallia, Hocking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Vinton and Washington counties and they maintain around 4,000 lane miles. They currently have 54,426 tons of salt across the district.

Each garage throughout District 10 has 15-20 plow trucks to prepare.

Ohio Department of Transportation Highway Maintenance Worker Andrew Yoho listens to Ohio Department of Transportation Highway Technician T.J. Edgell Tuesday morning as the ODOT District 10 garage in Marietta inspected its snow removal trucks as part of the statewide ODOT’s Annual Winter Readiness Event to make sure their equipment was ready to go this winter. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

There are also around 15-20 employees with each garage who drive these trucks with some seasonal help hired during the winter months when needed.

“We want to make sure we have enough people onboard to respond when we do get a snow storm,” Rittenhouse said. “These events are all about being proactive.

The event helps everyone prepare as they don’t want crews to be out in the middle of a snowstorm and have issues with their equipment that would force them to stop what they are doing and have to take a truck to the garage for repairs, Rittenhouse said.

“They literally have a checklist of 150 things that they are looking at,” she said. “It is the tires, the plow itself, fluid levels, the windshield wipers, the blinkers and literally everything you can think of on this equipment to make sure it is working as it should.”

In the winter months if officials know a storm is coming they will be able to get out and pre-treat the roads with brine and other times the weather hits and they have to go then and there.

A number of local students from Washington County schools were allowed to come in and paint some of the snow plows at the ODOT District 10 garage in Marietta. Officials put pictures on the District 10’s Facebook page and are voted on. The plow with the most “likes” will be featured in the Marietta Christmas parade the Saturday after Thanksgiving. (Photo provided)

“Our folks are ready to go at a moment’s notice,” Rittenhouse said.”When they get that phone call, it doesn’t matter if it is a Saturday or after hours or the middle of the night, they know they have to get up and go.”

“They are really special folks, the ones who are out there doing this at all hours of the night throughout the winter months.”

A number of local students from Washington County schools were allowed to come in and paint some of the snow plows. Officials put pictures on District 10’s Facebook page to be voted on. The plow with the most “likes” will be featured in the Marietta Christmas parade the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

“That program gives local students an opportunity to show off their artistic abilities and it is a great partnership that we enjoy having with our local schools,” Rittenhouse said.

Last winter crews drove 9.1 million miles statewide using nearly 769,177 tons of salt and 16.4 million gallons of liquid deicers, according to the press release.

ODOT’s goal is to have primary routes back up to speed within two hours and secondary routes within four hours of the end of a snow event, it said adding crews hit that goal 99.3% of the time last winter.

“It is a dangerous job, but they take a lot of pride in doing it,” Rittenhouse said. “They are out there trying to make the roads as safe as possible for the traveling public.”

Last year, there were 54 ODOT snow plows struck by other vehicles, she said adding the situations could be avoided if people would give crews room to work.

“We say, ‘Don’t crowd the plow,'” Rittenhouse said. “Just watch for us as you are out there this winter…just remember, we are going slower than the normal traffic.”

The plow takes up a lot of space on the road and crews might have to make sudden stops and turns.

“Our folks are trying to make the roads safe, we ask that drivers give us the space we need,” Rittenhouse said.