by Alex Lloyd Gross
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro held a press briefing and photo op at the Trevose PennDOT Depot to discuss snow removal efforts. It is a work in progress, but for now major thoroughfares like I-95 are in very good shape. Just south of Bucks County, Woodhaven Road is clear sailing. Roosevelt Boulevard, however, is atrocious.
“This is mostly a plowing effort,” said Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll. That does not mean salting is not happening. According to Carroll, PennDOT has used 14,000 tons of salt in Bucks County. There is no shortage of salt available. “We have orders in for more salt. Those orders were done on contract previously, so we will have plenty of salt,” Carroll assured the media.
He did note that some smaller townships do not have the space to store salt or may need supplies from PennDOT. “We can accommodate them. There is a process they go through,” he said.
Prior to the media Q&A, Shapiro was given a tour of the equipment and shown how it is used. PennDOT is only responsible for clearing state roads. That is why you may see PennDOT trucks pass by streets that are impassable. Township crews are responsible for township roads, and some townships hire private contractors to help with snow removal.
Alex Lloyd Gross Photo/Delaware Valley News.com Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll answers a question as the Governor looks on.
Depending on the winter, different state road crews will help out and may even supply salt if their state has not had much snow or ice while a neighboring state is getting slammed.