NEWS - MDOT plows in southwest Michigan will feature GPS location on Mi Drive this winter

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                      FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2015

 

CONTACT: Nick Schirripa, MDOT Office of Communications, 269-337-3927

                           schirripan@michigan.gov

 

MDOT plows in southwest Michigan will feature GPS location on Mi Drive this winter

 

Fast facts:

- MDOT's Mi Drive traffic website now shows where state plow trucks are in MDOT's Southwest Region thanks to GPS technology.

- When selected in the layer menu, the state plow trucks will appear on the map when they travel faster than 10 mph within 50 feet of the roadway.

- The MDOT Southwest Region includes Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Van Buren counties.

November 20, 2015 -- How many times have you asked, "Will my road be plowed?" Thanks to new technology, you now will be able to see where Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) plow trucks are plowing or salting on state trunklines (I, M and US routes).

 

              Along with its usual complement of about 80 plow trucks and some 140 or more plow operators based in 7 garages, MDOT's Southwest Region maintenance crews will be the focus of a new pilot program using existing GPS technology in state plow trucks.

 

              Under certain conditions, the public will be able to see the location of each plow truck on the Mi Drive website (www.michigan.gov/drive). The program includes MDOT plow trucks in Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Van Buren counties.

 

              Plow locations will be plotted on the Mi Drive map when they are traveling faster than 10 mph within 50 feet of the roadway. Other information posted for each plow will include whether the plow is down or salt is being spread. There also will be camera images available for some plows.

 

 

 

              "This innovative feature allows us to be more accessible and accountable to our customers," said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle. "This technology will help motorists see where our plows are deployed and what road conditions may be like ahead of their travels, as well as helping our maintenance forces better manage our efforts to keep Michigan roadways as clear and passable as possible during winter weather events."

 

              The Southwest Region was chosen for to pilot the program because of the region's strong winter weather storms earlier in the season, as well as its high concentration of MDOT maintenance forces.

 

              The pilot program will be evaluated toward the end of the winter season. There is potential for future statewide application.

 

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Download MDOT's Mi Drive traffic information app: www.michigan.gov/drive

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