New tow plow deployed to improve safety of Park County highways

Operation of a tow plow this coming winter on Park County highways will improve safety and snow-plowing efficiency.

"The tow plow can do the work of two trucks, and its long-term use will result in improvements in driver productivity while decreasing snow removal expenses," according to Wyoming Department of Transportation maintenance engineer Lyle Lamb of Basin.

WYDOT has deployed seven tow plows across Wyoming in the last five years.

This snow and ice removal workhorse will be on display for the first time to Park County media on Tuesday, Oct. 9, from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., at milepost 8, about seven miles north of Cody, and about 15 miles south of Powell.

"The tow plow is a trailer mounted, 26-foot plow that is towed behind a 10-wheeled plow truck. It has the capability of plowing and treating with salt brine an entire additional lane of roadway at normal highway speeds when completely deployed," Lamb said. "The entire trailer unit shifts to the right, utilizing movable axles on the trailer unit as well as hydraulic controls between the truck and trailer. It takes the place of another plow truck by allowing one truck to plow two lanes of roadway, or a single lane of roadway and an eight-foot shoulder."

Lamb said WYDOT's new Cody-based tow plow will be used to clear snow on multi-lane sections of highway throughout Park County this coming winter, and two-lane highways as well.

The truck pulling WYDOT's Tow Plow is equipped with heated mirrors which help the driver monitor the Tow Plow's location. For the safety of other vehicles on the road, tow plows have a rear lighting package that mimics the lights of the truck body. The Tow Plow will plow snow at about 35 mph, but depending on the snow load, it may be able to travel faster while working.

Benefits of tow plow use include:

• Increased efficiency: by allowing one plow truck operator to clear two lanes with one pass of the truck, snow removal becomes faster and more efficient.
• Improved safety: removing snow from two lanes at a time provides more clear travel lanes for motorists to use.

There are currently more than 300 tow plows in use by transportation departments throughout the country, including nearly 100 by the Missouri Department of Transportation. Viking-Cives Corp., of Morley, Missouri, manufactures the patented tow plow.

Snow plows are just one tool WYDOT uses to keep roads safe and passable during winter weather. If motorists are unsure about the condition of the roads, they can check the wyoroad.info web site that now includes detailed real-time maps, road conditions, radar, web cameras and atmospheric sensors. For information, visit WYDOT's 511 website. Road information is also available at (888) WYO-ROAD (996-7623).

For information about WYDOT's work, contact WYDOT public relations specialist Cody Beers at (307) 431-1803.