The State of Oklahoma spent $8 million clearing roads and highways of snow and ice dumped by Winter Storm Fern late last month.

Tim Gatz, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT), briefed transportation commissioners this week on the agency’s response to the recent winter storm which was characterized by prolonged freezing temperatures with various snow and ice events across the state.

Gatz said road crews used 44,000 tons of salt and sand and more than 507,000 gallons of brine totaling more than $2.5 million in material costs. He noted that the storm was not only challenging but the fluctuating temperatures melted the snow which would refreeze into black ice overnight or in shady areas, requiring some crews to stay deployed even after the storm had ended. As of Monday, more than 50,000 hours had been spent battling the storm.

“I want to absolutely commend our field districts on their preparation for this storm and their execution. The men and women of ODOT worked tirelessly until the highways were clear,” Gatz said.

An unfortunate result of (Continued from Page 1) this storm, he noted, was the number of plows hit across the state.

ODOT had five vehicles damaged, its Oklahoma City metro contractor had two and the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority also had five. No serious injuries were reported.

“That many crashes is a disturbing trend. Driver inattention and speeding put our crew’s safety and others at risk. Not only that but it also takes trucks out of service when we need them the most,” Gatz said. “We’re going to continue to ask for the traveling public’s help to pay attention to the plow trucks and the operations and give them room to maneuver.” Most of the crashes were with commercial motor vehicles.

During inclement weather, drivers are advised to stay weather- aware, avoid driving if at all possible and use the free Drive Oklahoma app to check road conditions. The app can be downloaded on any IOS or Android device. Drivers can also visit okroads. org to view conditions via snowplow cameras during weather events.

Winter weather also impacts infrastructure and exacerbates the potential for potholes. Gatz noted that the repeated freeze-thaw cycle during the winter will contribute to more potholes and work zones in the coming months.