Saturday, January 12, 2013
The new tow plow will be housed at the Brighton garage and used to clear I-96 and US-23 this winter.
If you happen to be driving down I-96 or US-23 and happen to see a rather large, orange Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) snow plow that looks like it's jack-knifing on ice, you shouldn't be alarmed - it's supposed to look that way. MDOT revealed its brand new snow plow, called a tow plow, at Island Lake Recreation Area on Friday. The tow plow can clear up to two full lane widths in one pass, doing the work of two trucks, saving MDOT both time and money. The tow plow cost MDOT $93,000, but is expected to pay for itself within five years. The service lifespan is also double that of the average snow plow, which costs around $200,000. In addition, the tow plow costs less to maintain.
Friday, January 4, 2013
The Tow Plow will be used on I-96 and US-23 starting this month.
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will begin using a new type of snowplow called a Tow Plow - the first ever in Michigan - in Livingston County this month. The new plow will be used on I-96 and US-23 starting this month. The plow is a patented, tandem-style machine that is essentially a snowplow towed by a standard plow truck. The Tow Plow can plow widths up to 25 feet - up to two full lane widths in one pass. By using the Tow Plow, crews can clear both the travel lane and shoulder in one pass, reducing the time needed to clear the freeway during a winter storm event. This will improve service while reducing labor costs and fuel consumption on these busy roadways with high traffic volumes. When activated, the wheels of the …
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Keep heart health in mind and go slow as you remove snow from sidewalks and driveways.
With the first significant snowfall in metro Detroit making its appearance later in the season than usual, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) and Blue Care Network (BCN) recommend residents keep heart health in mind and go slow when clearing snow from driveways and sidewalks throughout the winter. Shoveling snow can be hard work. Clearing snow for 15 minutes qualifies as a moderate physical daily activity recommended by the U.S. Surgeon General. However, for many sedentary, out-of-shape Americans, shoveling heavy, wet snow for 10 minutes is equivalent to running on a treadmill to exhaustion. Studies show major snow storms are often associated with increased emergency room visits for everything from muscle aches to heart attacks, …
Nicole Krawcke
5:41 pm on Friday, January 4, 2013
Haha, Sharon! Yeah, it would have freaked me out a little without knowing it was supposed to look like that! We'll have more on the new plow next week after I attend a demonstration! more ›