SIDNEY — Crews from the Ohio Department of Transportation District 7 have remained busy this week working 12-hour shifts to treat and plow the state highway system during several heavy snowfall events.
ODOT officials are urging drivers to allow extra time for their commute and to use extreme caution behind the wheel since roads can be slick.
“If you must go out, please give our crews room to work,” officials said.
Additionally, ODOT District 7 offered safety tips for clearing driveways of snow, asking residents to not plow or shovel snow in the right-of-way or the entry of a driveway.
“This can create sight distance issues. It can also create unsuspecting icy pavements especially when thawing occurs as it blocks pipes, ditches, and catch basins forcing water onto the roadways,” officials explained.
ODOT suggests that residents clear an area to the right of their driveway (as seen on the diagram) so the snow on the blade of the plow has a place to go before your driveway.
“This helps to eliminate unforeseen risks to the public. It also helps the occupant keep the entry and exit of a driveway from becoming plowed shut,” representatives said.
ODOT does not plow private driveways, and only maintains state and U.S. routes outside of municipalities and all the interstates in Ohio.
City streets are maintained by local municipalities. The county engineer’s office maintains county roads and township trustees take care of plowing on township roads.
“During the snow event, our drivers have a goal of keeping roadways passable, not perfect,” officials said.