The Arizona Department of Transportation's (ADOT) first TowPlow is greatly reducing the time it takes to clear Interstate 40 of snow, enabling one driver to clear snow from two lanes simultaneously.
This new snowplow has a 26-foot-wide blade. The trailer is attached to a regular snow plow, allowing it to cover a space that is 24 feet wide.
This modern marvel joins ADOT's 200 other, traditional snowplows. The TowPlow currently is used to clear 20 miles of I-40, from Bellemont to Williams, just west of Flagstaff.
ADOT used the new device for the first time last month, saving the agency a significant amount of time and fuel.
“It’s been a very busy year for ADOT’s winter operations, and as we work through this latest storm, the TowPlow already has been out on the highway plowing snow and ice,” Dallas Hammit, ADOT’s state engineer and deputy director for transportation, said. “This new plow is a time-saving and safe addition to the department’s fleet of snowplow trucks and provides a higher level of service to all drivers and travelers.”