INDOT Prepares for Snow, Ice with Pre-Winter Inspections
INDIANA — Indiana Department of Transportation crews have begun preparing for the winter months with pre-winter inspections. During the month of October, INDOT inspectors will travel to each of the Fort Wayne District’s 14 units to perform the annual inspection of snow and ice equipment.
During the inspections, INDOT’s yellow trucks undergo a full bumper-to-bumper examination and inspectors look for mechanical defects in need of repair. Special attention is paid to the trucks’ steering, engine and brakes. Any problems are noted and addressed by INDOT mechanics prior to the first snow or ice event.
The preventative maintenance is an important way INDOT prepares for the upcoming winter. Plow drivers also take part in mandatory snow and ice training each year, and most have begun familiarizing themselves with their snow routes. INDOT Fort Wayne District is responsible for 140 snow routes in 17 counties in Northeast Indiana, maintaining 4,800 lane miles of roadway, 525 lane miles of interstate and 742 state bridges.