Turnpike Takes on Season’s First Major Winter Storm
The first Turnpike-wide winter storm of the season rolled through Pennsylvania Jan. 5 and 6, bringing crews out in full force to keep the highway safe for travelers.
It might not be the first time Jack Frost made an appearance in PA this year, but Director of Maintenance John DelRicci said it is the first storm to hit the entire Turnpike. And crews were ready.
“When I was out on the road, I felt and saw the roadway presence we had,” he said.
That was by design. With the possibility of snow squalls and some icing in the forecast, it was crucial to respond at a moment’s notice. In many areas, crews were stationed every five miles or so and knew the locations of all the turnarounds and access gates to they could get to troubled spots in no time.
Winter Storm Blair dropped anywhere from a dusting to 11 inches, depending on the location in the state, according to the National Weather Service. Western Pennsylvania seemed to take the brunt of the storm, particularly in the Laurel Highlands.
With such a large winter storm moving through, the Traffic Operations Center was quite busy, too, monitoring the entire Turnpike from one end to the other, handling a total of 41 crashes and 68 disabled vehicles.
“We were staffed with an experienced team that have been with the PTC and understand the importance of good communication and customer service,” Manager of Traffic Operations Nathan Keel said. “They worked and communicated well with Maintenance and the teamwork between the multiple departments made the day go as smoothly as could be expected.”
It was a challenging storm with changing conditions, and throughout, they dispatched dispatch responders, stayed in touch with Maintenance, and fielded *11 calls from travelers with emergencies.
“The most important component when the TOC gets ready for these storms is maintaining open and shared communication with all departments and making sure we can be the reassuring and calm voice on the other end of the phone for our customers in distress,” Assistant Manager of Traffic Operations Janice Clea added.
Dispatchers don’t get snow days, and neither do Maintenance crews. DelRicci praised the work they did during this winter storm, and with another storm potentially on its heels, he told them it’s important to eat well, get some rest and continue to be mentally prepared for the next battle against winter.
“Our customers drive our highway because they know it’s going to be clear,” DelRicci said. “Our workers do a heck of a job out there, and they take pride in their work.”
By Steve Marroni, PA Turnpike Commission, Communications Specialist